Angus Gratton: Encouraging new programmers - the Open Tech School model

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Angus Gratton:
Encouraging new programmers - the Open Tech School model
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
@ Kiwi PyCon 2013 - Sunday, 08 Sep 2013 - Track 1
http://nz.pycon.org/

**Audience level**

Intermediate

**Description**

As programmers we should encourage new people to take up our craft. Coding skills can benefit a lot of people who aren't inclined to call themselves programmers. In this talk I'll explain why I think this is important, introduce the free volunteer organisation Open Tech School, and describe some of the things we've found that work and why we've embraced Python for our beginner workshops.

**Abstract**

The Python community may be one of the most welcoming programming communities, but even the experience of learning Python can be daunting for an outsider.

Open Tech School (OTS) - http://www.opentechschool.org/ - is one of many organisations aiming to introduce people to programming. Our motto: "We organize tech workshops. Hands-on, awesome, and free." All content is published online under open licenses, and OTS workshops are run by volunteers at no cost to participants.

Just like arithmetic skills are useful for people with no interest in becoming professional accountants, coding skills can be useful for people with no interest in becoming professional programmers. Many people are faced with menial computer-based tasks in their daily lives. Most could be greatly eased with the help of some programming. Not to mention that programming can be fun!

In this talk I'll explain why I think introducing outsiders to programming skills is important, and why I think every professional programmer has a reason to benefit from this. I'll also go into some of the details of how OTS workshops function, and the reasons I think most OTS beginner workshops use Python. Finally I'll show how you could go about starting OTS in your local community.

**YouTube**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyYs1VGvF-E

Transcript

1. Encouraging New Encouraging New Programmers Programmers The OpenTechSchool Model
5. OpenTechSchool OpenTechSchool opentechschool.org
8. Openness Openness
9. Empowerment Empowerment
10. Safe learning Safe learning Environment Environment
11. Hands-on learning Hands-on learning experience experience
12. Not for profit Not for profit
13. Community Community
14. Growing! Growing!
15. How It Works How It Works
18. Why OpenTechSchool? Why OpenTechSchool? • Well defined principles • Loosely coupled architecture • Community & Support • Comes with batteries included!
19. Lots Of Python! Lots Of Python! • Intro to Programming with Python • Intro to Data Processing with Python • Websites with Python Flask • Facebook Client (Web API) • BioPython • Django Workshop
20. Why Python? Why Python? • Installation • Beginner-friendly • Steady learning curve • Turtle!
22. import turtle for _ in range(6): turtle.forward(100) turtle.left(60)
28. Use Our Workshops! Use Our Workshops! python.opentechschool.org
29. print("Next OTS chapter: %s" % your_city)
30. Yay Photos! Yay Photos! • Full Color Spread by Dave Gingrich • Team Planting by popofatticus • Holi 2012 by Al Ibrahim • Tesla Coil at NIMBY by Willivolt • Mosquito targets by Wen Nag • Special thanks to Apple][js http://www.scullinsteel.com/apple2/
31. OpenTechSchool OpenTechSchool • Twitter: @OpenTechSchool @OTS_AU • opentechschool.org • blog.opentechschool.org • angus@opentechschool.org