Coding with Python Demo Class

Students will learn basic concepts of programming in Python through this course. They will be exposed to a variety of python fundamentals such as loops and variables. The programming concepts in this course will be delivered and reinforced through fun and interactive coding games and projects.

Python is a programming language used by professionals in industry. It powers the world’s second-largest search engine: YouTube. Scientists use Python to work with large data sets. Software engineers build neural networks and other forms of artificial intelligence with this versatile language.

A major feature that makes Python unique is that it’s easy to understand, even for kids with no programming experience. Unlike the majority of programming languages, Python’s syntax is concise and easily readable by humans. It mirrors the human language far better than other programming languages which makes it an ideal language for beginners. Writing code in Python is similar to writing commands in plain English. As beginners, kids will quickly pick up the basics and learn how to use this language for game development and animation.

Jerry initially found his interest in robotics from his electronics design class in middle school. Beginning in ninth grade, he participated in FIRST Robotics Competition for four years, serving as software lead, outreach lead, and team captain. He led the team to qualify for FRC World Championships for three consecutive years and to receive the Engineering Inspiration Award, a recognition for the team’s robotics instruction programs to elementary school students in the local community. Jerry has 150+ hours of experience in robotics instruction, and served as programming judge for University of Missouri’s robotics challenge for elementary school students.

Recognitions:

• Led high school team to qualify 3x to World Championships for the first time in 8 years
• Organized 37+ Robotics workshops in the community as part of STEM outreach efforts, recognized by one FIRST Chairman’s Award and two Engineering Inspiration Awards from 2017-2019
• 150+ hours of teaching experience to elementary school students.
• Invited robotics judge at MU Robotics Challenge
• Currently pursuing a degree in computer science at Duke University

• usage and naming conventions
• integers, floats, Strings
• numerical and string operations
• adding comments to code
• Project: Drawing in Turtle
• Project: ChatBot
• Project: DIY Calculator

Conditionals: if statements

• comparisons and multiple comparisons
• if-else chains
• If statement with lists
• applications of conditionals
• Project: Grade Calculator
• Project: Create an adventure game

Loops: for loops, while loops

• purpose of loops
• implementing a loop
• infinite loops
• applications of loops
• Project: Multiplication table
• Project: Number Guessing game
• Project: Magic 8 ball

Lists and data structures

• Intro to data structures
• navigating lists
• changing/adding/removing elements from a list
• organizing a list
• applications of lists
• Project: Favorite Pizzas