Learning Python: Tips from Cognitive Science, Jupyter, and Community

Keynote at PyCaribbean 2018. February 17, 2018. Learning has been extensively studied by Cognitive Science. Discussion about how elements of Cognitive Science, Project Jupyter, and Community influence a person's learning of the Python language.

Transcript

1. 

   Learning Python
   Tips from Cognitive Science,
   Jupyter, and Community
   Carol Willing
   PyCaribbean
   2018
   

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2. @WillingCarol
   Welcome and Thank You
   

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3. Why learn Python?
   

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4. Where should I start?
   Time
   Confused
   129,932 Projects
   https://pypi.org/
   

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5. Will I be able to learn ____________?
   Doubt
   Fear Alone
   http://pgbovine.net/publications/conversational-programmers-learning-failures_CHI-2018.pdf
   

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6. @WillingCarol
   Obstacles
   Peaceful and confident
   
   (most days)
   

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7. @WillingCarol
   1998
   

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8. Learning
   Tagalog
   

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9. Learning
   Python 1
   $ conda create -n py1env python=1.0
   $ source activate py1env
   $ python
   

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10. @WillingCarol
    2018
    

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11. Learning
    Python 3
    

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12. Learning and Cognitive Science
    Thinking
    Ideas
    

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13. What is
    
    Cognitive
    Science?
    Anthropology
    Linguistics
    Education
    AI
    Psychology
    Philosophy
    Neuroscience
    

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14. Why
    
    Cognitive
    Science?
    Inclusive
    

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15. Learning results
    from what a
    student does
    and thinks and
    only what the
    student does and
    thinks.
    Herbert A. Simon
    

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16. The teacher can
    advance learning
    only by
    influencing what
    the student does
    to learn.
    Herbert A. Simon
    Credit: http://bostonpythonworkshop.com/
    

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17. 

    Learning
    conceptually driven
    
    experiences
    
    lifetime
    "top-down"
    

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18. 

    Learning
    "bottom-up"
    data driven
    
    five senses
    
    now
    

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19. @WillingCarol
    "bottom-up"
    "top-down"
    Effective
    Learning
    

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20. Language
    

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21. Python - The Beginning
    the most important
    lesson I learned
    was about sharing
    – Guido van Rossum
    http://neopythonic.blogspot.com/2016/04/kings-day-speech.html
    

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22. Designed for Learning
    In reality, programming languages
    are how programmers express and
    communicate ideas — and the
    audience for those ideas is other
    programmers, not computers.
    http://neopythonic.blogspot.com/2016/04/kings-day-speech.html
    – Guido van Rossum
    

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23. Python 3
    https://github.com/jakevdp/WhirlwindTourOfPython
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4w4wKveVo4
    f-strings
    

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24. Scratch to
    Python 3
    
    Joshua Lowe
    EduBlocks
    

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25. Mu
    https://docs.python.org/3.7/library/turtle.html
    Python 3 code
    
    editor for learning
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrblTJnAnPw
    https://codewith.mu
    

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26. Visualize
    
    Get live help
    pythontutor.com
    Philip Guo (UCSD Cognitive Science)
    

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27. @WillingCarol
    Learn
    Python is designed for your success.
    

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28. Tools and Libraries
    

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29. Notebooks engage learners
    

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30. JupyterLab
    Try it on Binder.
    next-generation
    
    web-based
    
    user interface
    
    for
    
    Project Jupyter
    Special thanks to Jessica Forde.
    

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31. @WillingCarol
    HUB
    A JUPYTER NOTEBOOK FOR
    EVERYONE
    

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32. @WillingCarol
    JupyterHub: Deploy with Kubernetes
    https://zero-to-jupyterhub.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
    

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33. JupyterHub for Teaching
    https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/openGraph/wid/1_k6uwj8g1
    https://atg.fas.harvard.edu/news/seas-computing-and-academic-technology-fas-launch-jupyterhub-canvas-integration
    • Exploration and experimentation
    http://pyvideo.org/scipy-2016/labs-in-the-wild-teaching-
    signal-processing-using-wearables-jupyter-notebooks-
    scipy-2016.html
    • Physical media with wearables
    and electronics
    • Real world, self-directed
    projects
    Teaching Signal Processing
    using Wearables and Jupyter
    Notebooks
    Dr. Demba Ba
    

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34. Binder
    https://blog.jupyter.org/binder-2-0-a-tech-guide-2017-fd40515a3a84
    https://elifesciences.org/labs/8653a61d/introducing-binder-2-0-share-your-interactive-
    research-environment
    https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01322-9
    mybinder.org
    

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35. Build your own BinderHub
    https://binderhub.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
    

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36. @WillingCarol
    Learn
    Build
    Rich ecosystem
    
    5 lines of code or less
    
    Interactive creation
    

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37. Community
    

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38. Invite new learners
    Use a proven curriculum
    Engage students
    Reduce stress with
    notebooks
    Meetups and Workshops
    Intro to Python - San Diego Python
    http://pyvideo.org/pycon-us-2013/a-hands-on-introduction-to-python-for-beginning-p.html
    https://github.com/pythonsd/intro-to-python
    

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39. DjangoGirls and PyLadies
    

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40. Teaching
    
    Teachers
    Picademy
    

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41. Building
    helpful
    community
    

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42. Python
    
    Software
    
    Foundation
    

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43. ...a programming
    language created by a
    community fosters
    happiness in its users
    around the world.
    – Guido van Rossum
    

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44. @WillingCarol
    Learn
    Share
    Build
    

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45. @WillingCarol
    YOU
    

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46. @WillingCarol
    Immerse yourself
    

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47. @WillingCarol
    Choose a language
    designed for learning
    

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48. @WillingCarol
    Use
    learner-friendly
    tools
    

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49. @WillingCarol
    Encourage others
    and share
    

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50. @WillingCarol
    Enjoy the
    journey
    

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51. @WillingCarol
    YOU + Python =
    Success
    

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52. @WillingCarol
    Call to Action
    Set measurable
    goals
    
    Believe it is possible
    
    Work together
    What will you do?
    

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53. Came for the language.
    Stayed for the community.
    Brett Cannon and
    Pythonistas
    around the world
    Credit: Kushal Das
    

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54. @WillingCarol
    54
    Thank you
    to the many, many Pythonistas who
    
    encourage, gently nudge,
    
    and care for others. You make a
    
    difference in the world.
    

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55. Questions
    Steering Council, Project Jupyter
    Core Developer, Project Jupyter
    Software Engineer, Cal Poly SLO
    Fellow, Python Software Foundation
    Core Developer, CPython
    Geek in Residence, Fab Lab San Diego
    Carol Willing
    @willingcarol
    

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56. •San Diego Python
    
    •Demba Ba
    
    •Project Jupyter team and community
    
    •Photo credits and links on individual slides
    Attributions and recognition
    

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