Learning and Teaching Python

Presented on the vBrownBag webinar on July 24: Learning hacks, a personal learning plan template, and a teaching/learning philosophy for Python (and other stuff too) from @smtibor and @kellypared.

Transcript

1. LEARNING AND TEACHING PYTHON copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
2. WHO WE ARE copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
3. Kelly Schuster-Paredes @KellyPared on Twitter ▸ Middle School Computer Science Teacher ▸ Education & Curriculum Designer ▸ 1st Year Coding ▸ 20+ Years Teaching ▸ Co-host of Teaching Python kelly_fun_facts = {'origin': 'Sebastian, Florida', 'countries_taught_in': ['Peru', 'USA', 'UK']} copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
4. Sean Tibor @smtibor on Twitter ▸ Middle School Computer Science Teacher ▸ 1st Year Teaching ▸ Transfer from IT and Digital Marketing 15+ Year Career ▸ Co-host of Teaching Python sean_fun_facts = {'origin': 'Anchorage, Alaska', 'can_sew': True} copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
5. WHOGAS (THE WHY) If you've ever said: ▸ I want to ____________ ▸ If I knew how to __________, then I could _______ ▸ This would be so much better if I could just __________ Then you have a need-based reason for why you are learning _________ copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
6. OBJECTIVES (THE WHAT) ▸ Break down our pedagogy (teaching/learning philosophy) ▸ Share our super-efficient crypto-mining algorithm personal learning plan template ▸ Give you hacks to learn better and faster, not harder ▸ The power of reflection copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
7. LEARNING HAS CHANGED THEN NOW Memorization Acquiring Knowledge Testing Recall Testing Understanding Independent Subjects Integrated Disciplines Exercise-based Project-based Because I said it's important Because I want to use it Applies to both youth and adult learning. copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
8. TEACHING AND LEARNING PHILOSOPHY AS TEACHERS, WE BELIEVE THAT: copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
9. TRUE LEARNING COMES FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES AND IS EARNED FROM FAILURE copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
10. STUDENTS LEARN AT DIFFERENT PACES AND THAT IS AMAZING copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
11. THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IS OWNED BY THE STUDENT (TEACHERS ARE GUIDES AND COACHES) copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
12. ACTIVELY CONNECTING TO YOUR LEARNING IMPROVES 'STICKINESS' copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
13. TRUE MOTIVATION COMES BY LINKING TO A BIGGER, HIGHER GOAL copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
14. PERSISTENCE AND DISCIPLINE BEATS RAW MOTIVATION copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
15. A TEMPLATE FOR LEARNING copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
16. 1. Define your learning objective 2. Identify and select best resources 3. Sketch it out 4. Reflect, connect, and identify 5. Chunk the problem or ideas into smaller parts 6. Evaluate the process 7. Create it 8. Share it copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
17. DEFINE YOUR LEARNING OBJECTIVE What are you trying to learn and why? One sentence like: "I am learning ________ so that I can __________" copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
18. IDENTIFY AND SELECT BEST RESOURCES ▸ People (Coworkers, friends, colleagues, trainers) ▸ Websites (Real Python, codechalleng.es, Codecombat, Fast.ai) ▸ Books (Python Crash Course, Automate the Boring Stuff) ▸ Videos (Youtube, Sentdex) ▸ Courses (100 Days of Python, Colt Steele's Udemy Course) (Also, this super cool podcast: teachingpython.fm) copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
19. INTERPRET AND SKETCH OUT HOW YOU WILL USE THIS NEW INFORMATION Write something that you are going to rewrite with the new info that you can quickly code. You do not need to know all the code, just the process of it on paper copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
20. REFLECT, CONNECT AND IDENTIFY What am I still missing? Draw connections with your ideas and your learning copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
21. ORGANIZE THE PROBLEM OR IDEAS INTO SMALLER DO-ABLE CHUNKS Good for problem-solving and for learning copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
22. EVALUATE THE PROCESS. TALK IT OUT. EXPLAIN IT. Work your way through the chunks to fill in the spaces. copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
23. CREATE IT Now make it. Take notes. Document. Scribble in the margins. copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
24. SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE FOR FEEDBACK Getting feedback and mentorship can help you learn better. copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
25. THE END: WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT? After the basics of learning Python, there are so many places you can go to learn more-- which one is the most beneficial to focus on or do you need an overall general idea of all that you can do in Python? copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
26. ADDITIONAL HACKS FOR LEARNING copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
27. MAKE CONNECTIONS Finding ways to make connections to the stuff you are learning and things that you already know. ▸ Make analogies with something else in your life ▸ Write comments in your code to capture the analogies ▸ Even if it's a simple exercise, make the variables and naming copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
28. CREATE REINFORCEMENT LOOPS Shorten the distance between your effort and your results. Make it tangible. ▸ Code with CircuitPython for tactile responses ▸ A short, fast iteration with clear results is better than complex, delayed gratification. ▸ Build in testing: how do you know it worked? copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
29. IDENTIFY THE TIMES AND PLACES THAT YOU LEARN BEST ▸ 24-box chart for highlighting cognitive levels by hour (bonus points by day of week) ▸ When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink ▸ Create a learning environment ▸ Deal with distractions copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
30. TALKING TO YOURSELF IS NOT WEIRD... It may seem weird but talking out the problem or concept can help you learn better copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
31. CHUNKING YOUR LEARNING Your short term memory needs to process the learning but it gets overloaded fast--- learn information in small chunks and then help commit it to long term memory. copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
32. REFLECT ▸ Learning is different for everyone ▸ Your objectives matter ▸ 8-step template for learning (make it your own) ▸ Don't let your life be an excuse. Make it part of your learning. ▸ What are other ways to hack your learning? copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared
33. RECAP 1. Learning as an adult 2. Our teaching and learning philosophy 3. 8 steps for learning Python (or pretty much anything) 4. Learning hacks 5. Reflect copyright 2019, @smtibor and @kellypared