Ask HN: How to teach Python to non-programmers online? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How to teach Python to non-programmers online?

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2 pointswebartifex8 comments

Hello world,

two weeks ago, I recorded and published my "Introduction to Python & Programming" course that I have been teaching to non-CS majors over the last 2 years.

Materials on GitHub: https://github.com/webartifex/intro-to-python

Playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zns-vfhuic&list=PL-2JV1G3J1...

Question: Because the semester is over at the end of April and I have no teaching obligations until the fall term, I was wondering if I should be teaching the course over the summer. I have no experience with developing a MOOC, so I am curious to hear your suggestions.

My plan was to put one video lecture up per week and then have a Q&A for the students on, for example, Zoom. My university has a big license.

My big observations over the last couple of semesters are that non-CS majors need some personal tutoring. No need to be 1-on-1. Assigning students into small study groups and then talk to the groups is enough.

So, I am basically offering my time once a week for free for any beginner to Python.

Maybe we can start an initiative where other software engineers also volunteer their time in a similar format.

I audited a couple of the standard MOOCs on edX and coursera in the last year and find that especially beginners struggle if they only have a message board to ask questions and not an interactive tutor.

What are your thoughts?

Beside showing videos lecture. Setting up interactive exercise maybe helpful to some type of students. Example like codeingame.

I created lots of exercises. They are all on GitHub (see *_02_exercises.ipynb files on https://github.com/webartifex/intro-to-python). My "offline" students take between 4 to 8 hours per exercise set.

Appreciate your work. I know it's hard to get response from the internet of block hole, so here's a cheer up

Thanks :)

You may share my materials with anyone you know who wants to start Python.

Also, I am very open to pull requests with additional exercises and content.

I know it's a bit side tracked, you may consider to use FOSS alternative of Zoom, for example Jitsi.

I tried this out this week for a workshop. It seems to not run smoothly on Firefox and some students have company laptops where they cannot change the browser easily.

Also, I heavily use Zoom's breakout rooms functionality.

I have no suggestions, but wanted to say thanks. I want to learn Python. I am "non technical" for the HN crowd and I keep failing to learn to program cuz Reasons.

I wish I had brilliant suggestions. But I suspect if I knew what on Earth I need someone to do for me, I would not be continuing to fail to learn to code.

I have made a note of this HN link in my "I have fantasies of learning to code -- someday!!!" files and I hope to check it out soon, but not right this minute, cuz Reasons.

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