Python Workshops for Beginners/Reflections: Difference between revisions

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Session 2 also featured a review session prior to the morning lecture.
Session 2 also featured a review session prior to the morning lecture.


We had a total of 10 mentors volunteer per session, with a total group of 22 volunteers.
We had a total of 10 mentors volunteer per session, with a total group of 22 volunteers. Mentors received very positive comments and feedback, with almost half of survey respondents labeling them "Excellent"; only one respondent rated them "Fair", with the rest of responses falling under "Good" (18%) and "Very Good" (29%).


We had about 230 participants apply to attend the sessions. About 100 of those were immediately filtered out for eligibility: no math or engineering undergrads were permitted to attend the workshops, as their programs have significant required programming components (often 2-3 classes in far more depth than we covered). We selected on programming skill (to ensure that all attendees were complete beginners), enthusiasm, and overall application quality, and I capped the total at 50 participants given our budget.
We had about 230 participants apply to attend the sessions. About 100 of those were immediately filtered out for eligibility: no math or engineering undergrads were permitted to attend the workshops, as their programs have significant required programming components (often 2-3 classes in far more depth than we covered). We selected on programming skill (to ensure that all attendees were complete beginners), enthusiasm, and overall application quality, and I capped the total at 50 participants given our budget.
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* [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15SfIlAWJinmax2m1r98L36FzLKWQl4QsEB9N0KyhgYg/viewform Follow-up survey]
* [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15SfIlAWJinmax2m1r98L36FzLKWQl4QsEB9N0KyhgYg/viewform Follow-up survey]


We used this feedback to both evaluate what worked well and what did not. The final follow-up survey was intended to evaluate how effective the workshops were.
We used this feedback to both evaluate what worked well and what did not. The final follow-up survey was intended to evaluate how effective the workshops were; we received 32 responses out of our group of 50 participants. We learned that over 60% of participants said they felt less intimidated by programming after completing the workshops, 75% found the workshops "Enjoyable" or "Very Enjoyable", 85% said their interest levels in programming increased, and 90% rated the workshops overall positively. Only four respondents (13%) did not use their new programming skills in any capacity after the workshops.


=== Morning Lectures ===
=== Morning Lectures ===


The CDSW began each full day with 2h lectures with no breaks. This was a little too intense for the students, so I decided to reduce the length to 1.5h and break things up with short, self-directed exercises. These went over very well. Furthermore, I'm not as experience of a lecturer as Mako, so I chose to use slides and distribute them to students, who told me it made it easier to follow along.
The CDSW began each full day with 2h lectures with no breaks. This was a little too intense for the students, so I decided to reduce the length to 1.5h and break things up with short, self-directed exercises. These went over very well. Furthermore, I'm not as experienced of a lecturer as Mako, so I chose to use slides and distribute them to students, who told me it made it easier to follow along.


In the Session 3 survey, 35% of respondants said the lectures were "Good", 35% called them "Very Good" and 18% called them "Excellent".
In the Session 3 survey, 35% of respondents said the lectures were "Good", 35% called them "Very Good" and 18% called them "Excellent".


=== Projects ===
=== Projects ===
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In all cases, we gave students red sticky notes they could use to signal that they needed help (a tool borrowed from [http://software-carpentry.org/ SWC]).
In all cases, we gave students red sticky notes they could use to signal that they needed help (a tool borrowed from [http://software-carpentry.org/ SWC]).

Afternoon sessions received less positive feedback than the morning lectures: 35% of survey respondents rated them "Fair", 41% "Good", and the remaining 24% "Very Good".


== Session 0: Python Setup ==
== Session 0: Python Setup ==