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. |
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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%). |
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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] |
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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. |
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=== Morning Lectures === |
=== Morning Lectures === |
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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 |
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. |
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In the Session 3 survey, 35% of |
In the Session 3 survey, 35% of respondents said the lectures were "Good", 35% called them "Very Good" and 18% called them "Excellent". |
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=== 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]). |
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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". |
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== Session 0: Python Setup == |
== Session 0: Python Setup == |