Python Workshop for Students – An Experience Worth Sharing

Yesterday I conducted a Python hands on workshop for (mostly) students. Before I started the workshop, I asked them to introduce themselves and share why they were attending the workshop.

Here are some answers that warmed my heart.

I want to learn something that is not covered in our courses and do something that we don’t do as part of our college education.

Ever since I started programming, I got hooked on to solving problems. I am here because I want to become a full stack developer and solve problems.

I have been mostly doing embedded programming for robotic challenges. I was inspired by a couple of members in my team who were Python experts. I tried Python, and liked it.

I try to learn new things whenever I can. During holidays and breaks I keep trying out new things.

I am into competitive coding and like to participate in challenges. That is why I am here.

There were some amazing things about the participants:

  • They came on a Saturday to learn and sat till about 6 pm working on problems
  • Some of them built websites when they were in school and won competitions. They kept learning new things.
  • Some of them were in robotics competitions and were interested in embedded programming, Arduino, Raspberry Pi. Python is the next step in their evolution.
  • A faculty member came to the class (not to attend it but to encourage the students) and stayed throughout the day. He was interacting with students, instructors and even the organizers.
I taught them very little – mostly showed code snippets and made them work through problems throughout the day. We ended with a 2 hour coding challenge. We plan to offer internships to two of them (there were about 16 students).