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.
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.
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.
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.
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?