This new course provides a practical, supportive, and fun environment for learning Python. Tuition is free for underrepresented groups.

Update: The Summer 2020 offering has started and is now closed to new signups but you can still sign up to be included in the next offering.

Classes start on August 12 and we’ll meet once a week for eight weeks. Read on if you’re interested in attending. Classes are limited to the first ten students to sign up via this form.

Overview

Computer programming has become a fundamental skill of our modern world. Data processing now permeates just about every field of study and every profession. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that those who understand computer programming are likely to enjoy greater opportunity.

This course teaches basic Python Programming with an emphasis on being:


  • Practical - Every week we’ll solve real problems because I want you to understand not only how to do things, but why.
  • Interactive - All course material (lecture notes, homework, exercises, etc.) are delivered via interactive notebooks, which promotes active learning.
  • Approachable - There are no prerequisites and nothing to install or configure - all you need to get started is a web browser.
  • Team Based - We’ll form small groups to help you learn from each other. The course will culminate in a group project, which each team will share at our final class.

Logistics

  • One 90-minute meeting per week for eight weeks starting on Wednesday August 12 through September 30, 2020.
  • Class are held remotely via videoconference on Wednesday evenings, 7-8:30pm BST (the first lesson is two hours 7-9pm).
  • All lesson materials will be available to you free and online, including supplementary readings from an online textbook.

Syllabus

  • Week 1 - Python Basics
  • Week 2 - Booleans, Expressions, Operators, and If Statements
  • Week 3 - String Revisited and Loops
  • Week 4 - Functions and Modules
  • Week 5 - Tuples, Lists, and Dictionaries
  • Week 6 - Objects, Files, and Exceptions
  • Week 7 - Applied Python - Data Science
    • web scraping
    • csv files
    • pandas
    • data visualization
  • Week 8 - Applied Python - Web and Cloud Computing
    • containers
    • web server
    • back end API
    • Cloud Run
  • Week 9 - (optional) Group or Personal Project Presentations

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are these classes for?

Anyone interested in learning Python programming in a practical, supportive, and fun environment. This course is not necessarily about becoming a professional developer (though this could be a first step in that process). The ultimate goal is to demystify programming, and to make it more accessible and inclusive for students of all ages.

Who will be teaching?

You can find out more about me here.

Are the classes free?

This course is free of charge for women, LGBTQ+, and/or BAME people. For others, a donation of $100 is requested to benefit one of the following charities:


How do I sign up?

Fill out this form.

Questions?

Contact me via marc@mco.dev.