Python Coding Club
Learners build off the skills they developed in the (Scratch) Coding Club, developed by McGill University, and further expand some foundational computer programming concepts and further develop computational thinking skills.
In this activity, students participate in three or four weeks of hands-on coding activities, via Python, for one-hour sessions, where each session builds off of the previous session.
Credit: This activity was created by McGill University.
What You Need
- Computer access with a reliable internet connection
- Latest download of Python
- Python Coding Club PowerPoint presentation
- Python Coding Club activity overview
Note: This activity can be hosted in a virtual setting, or in-person, provided participants can view the facilitator’s screen.
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe delivery of outreach to youth.
What To Do
Pre-activity:
- Facilitator to review and become comfortable with the content in the Python Coding Club PowerPoint presentation.
- Facilitator to edit and update the yellow highlighted sections in the Coding Club PowerPoint presentation (site feature and Land Acknowledgement).
Activity:
- Ask the educator to split learners into pairs, if working in teams.
- Host the weekly session, per Python Coding Club PowerPoint presentation, coaching learners while they complete each identified task, via Python.
Discovery
Learners will further explore some essential computer programming concepts, extending their knowledge and skills gained through participating in the Scratch-based Coding Club. They will further develop computational thinks skills, including repetition (loops), sequences, conditional statements, algorithmic thinking, debugging, testing and evaluating, etc. through coding in Python. Through this activity, learners will also further develop critical thinking and gain practical coding skills in Python.
As technology advances, it is more important than ever that people contribute to the digital world. Building computational thinking skills and strengthening knowledge of computational thinking concepts, better prepares learners for the real and the digital world. By asking questions and then adapting to the answers, learners can ask more precise questions to solve the problem.
The commands created by learners followed a sequence. A sequence can have repeated tasks or tasks that only happen in particular situations. Learners gave instructions to perform an action multiple times. This kind of repetition happens a lot in computer programming. Instead of writing out that step multiple times, it can be set up so that it automatically repeats (loops) a certain number of times.
Critical thinking involves addressing complex problems by interpreting information to make informed judgments. Being able to think critically is an important skill to have that helps learners become constructive citizens and interact with the world in meaningful ways.
Python is one of the most popular coding languages being used today. Gaining knowledge and practical skills will help give learners an advantage in the coding world, which could lead to some amazing job prospects!
- Encourage learners to embrace their new skills and independently explore Scratch further and create their own code to generate new characters, games, etc.
- Explore other Let’s Talk Science Scratch-related, hands-on-activities:
- Encourage learners to embrace their new skills and independently explore Python independently. Many activities can be found on-line through the Python website, YouTube tutorials, a quick Google browser search, etc.
What's Happening?
Learners will further explore some essential computer programming concepts, extending their knowledge and skills gained through participating in the Scratch-based Coding Club. They will further develop computational thinks skills, including repetition (loops), sequences, conditional statements, algorithmic thinking, debugging, testing and evaluating, etc. through coding in Python. Through this activity, learners will also further develop critical thinking and gain practical coding skills in Python.
Why Does It Matter?
As technology advances, it is more important than ever that people contribute to the digital world. Building computational thinking skills and strengthening knowledge of computational thinking concepts, better prepares learners for the real and the digital world. By asking questions and then adapting to the answers, learners can ask more precise questions to solve the problem.
The commands created by learners followed a sequence. A sequence can have repeated tasks or tasks that only happen in particular situations. Learners gave instructions to perform an action multiple times. This kind of repetition happens a lot in computer programming. Instead of writing out that step multiple times, it can be set up so that it automatically repeats (loops) a certain number of times.
Critical thinking involves addressing complex problems by interpreting information to make informed judgments. Being able to think critically is an important skill to have that helps learners become constructive citizens and interact with the world in meaningful ways.
Python is one of the most popular coding languages being used today. Gaining knowledge and practical skills will help give learners an advantage in the coding world, which could lead to some amazing job prospects!
Investigate Further
- Encourage learners to embrace their new skills and independently explore Scratch further and create their own code to generate new characters, games, etc.
- Explore other Let’s Talk Science Scratch-related, hands-on-activities:
- Encourage learners to embrace their new skills and independently explore Python independently. Many activities can be found on-line through the Python website, YouTube tutorials, a quick Google browser search, etc.