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What my 300+ fantastic young students taught me about Python.

Level:
beginner
Room:
south hall 2b
Start:
Duration:
30 minutes

Abstract

Computer pRogramming, Technology, Bit-coinism Success, Climate Change and Billionaires are all associated with one another. This talk will describe how a cohort of 299+ young people (aged 11-14) were introduced to Python Programming, at the same time, for the very first time. And in this talk, I would like to share with a great secret in that I have actually learnt more from the young students than they learnt from me. This talk is about how these young people have opened my eyes, mind and heart about alternative ways of looking at and appreciating:- The humble IF statement; the under-rated FOR loop, the dry Return Statement, the functional Maths & Random modules, etc. as if one were an artist. We will talk about the renewed delight of looking at these things from fresh pairs of eyes and how we can take these new learnings forward.

TalkEducation, Teaching & Training

Description

Computer pRogramming, Technology, Bit-coinism Success, Climate Change and Billionaires are all associated with one another. This talk will describe how a cohort of 299+ young people (aged 11-14) were introduced to Python Programming, at the same time, for the very first time. And in this talk, I would like to share with a great secret in that I have actually learnt more from the young students than they learnt from me. This talk is about how these young people have opened my eyes, mind and heart about alternative ways of looking at and appreciating:- The humble IF statement; the under-rated FOR loop, the dry Return Statement, the functional Maths & Random modules, etc. as if one were an artist. We will talk about the renewed delight of looking at these things from fresh pairs of eyes and how we can take these new learnings forward.


The speaker

Lil

Lilian studied Computer Science at high school and did her PhD in Computer Modelling. She went on to looking at computer applications and programming in the pharmaceutical sector before entering formal teaching for the next generation. She is currently engaged in teaching Python programming, C# and Javascript. She has given lectures in conferences both in the UK and abroad about the teaching of Computer Programming to young people. She has ran computer clubs including that of 'computer-assisted' investment for children and is a full member of the British Computer Society.

Lilian firmly believes that in this emergent brave new world, the Anthrpocene age, the computer (with its associated technologies) is the harbinger to transform globally man's short slavish existence to a better one - a world community defined by longer, richer and freer life experiences. She believes it is imperative that our schools empower our young children with his new knowledge, and Lilian herself did help reshape the Computer Science Department of an independent boys' school as Head of Department. She has produced for children more than 75 YouTube (online) videos on Computer Science and Programming - and has had more than 12,000 hits globally.


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