Welcome to Python Programming!

Agenda

Here’s what we’ll cover:

  • Instructional team and classmate introductions.
  • About General Assembly.
  • Course structure.
  • The final project.
  • Key concepts from the myGA prework.

Meet Your Instructor

{Insert your name.}

  • {Insert email address.}
  • {Insert key facts about yourself and your career:
  • Current role.
  • Cool companies/brands you’ve worked with.
  • One fun fact (Keep it classy!).}

Meet Your Support Team

{Insert IA’s name.}

  • {Insert email address.}
  • {Insert key facts about yourself and your career:
  • Current role.
  • Cool companies/brands you’ve worked with.
  • One fun fact (Keep it classy!).}

Front Lines

Have a question about:

  • The campus?
  • Lost and found?
  • Loaner equipment?
  • Free coffee and snacks?

Come here to talk to Front Lines and they will help you out.

{Picture of the local front lines desk}

More Great People

{Bullet list of names and roles}

Classroom Culture

Let’s all agree to:

  • Treat each other with respect
  • Avoid bringing distractions into class
  • {Add more…}

More Great People: You! Meet Your Classmates

Please share:

  • Your name.
  • Why you’re taking this course.
  • Your favorite comfort food.

Icebreakers

{Insert some fun icebreakers here!}

What is General Assembly?

  • More 20 global campuses across 6 countries.
  • Thriving alumni community of 50,000+ full- and part-time graduates.
  • Corporate training with 350+ companies, including 39 of the Fortune 100.
  • 500,000+ attendees at bootcamps, workshops, and events.

What is General Assembly’s Mission?

“GA was founded on the principle of empowering people to pursue the work they love. Since we opened our first campus in 2011, we have had the privilege of working with students, governments, and the world’s largest companies to create opportunities to radically transform careers and economic prospects.” - Jake Schwartz, Founder + CEO, General Assembly

Student Experience

Come work on campus!

We’re open:

  • {8am - 10pm, Monday to Friday}
  • {10am - 6pm, Saturday and Sunday}

Map of the Campus

{If possible; otherwise, remove this slide}

Snack Calendar

There’s a lot of work ahead, and you’re going to need fuel.

{Link to snack calendar}

Moving on to Course Specifics…

Okay, GA is cool!

The classmates are cool.

Let’s talk about the course.

Computer Setup

We are expecting that:

  • You are on a Mac, PC, or Linux machine
  • You can get to the internet!
  • You have Slack.

Wi-fi: GA-GUEST pw: yellowpencil

Office Hours

Help us help you!

{Mondays / Wednesdays}: {5:30pm - 6:30pm}

How to get a certificate of completion

  1. Complete 80% of the homework
  2. Don’t miss more than 3 classes
  3. Complete the final project

Course Materials

{Instructor note: This is your call! Choose ONE of the below}.

  • Lessons for the day will be linked at the beginning of the day. or
  • Lessons for the course will can be viewed here - don’t go too far ahead! or
  • Each lesson will be shared before the lesson.

The lessons are interactive to give as much programming practice as possible, so be sure you get the links and follow along!

Homework

Homework:

  • Isn’t graded, but is good practice.
  • We will go over it the next class!

Your Final Project

  • Each day, you’ll build skills in Python and understand different ways in which you can use it to build applications.
  • At the end of {Day 4 or the 9th week}, you’ll choose a final project focus.
  • On {Day 5 or the 10th week} in class, you’ll build an application in Python based on your project focus area.
  • At the end of {Day 5 or the 10th week}, you’ll demo your project for the class.

Okay - Let’s get to it! Prework Review

  • Did everyone complete it?

  • Let’s review it!

We learned:

Programming and Programming Languages

Programming: - Writing step-by-step instructions in a way a computer can understand.

Programming Languages

  • How we can give computers instructions.
  • There are thousands! But we’re learning Python.
  • Specifically, Python 3.

Key Features of Python

  • It’s simple.
  • It’s versatile.
  • It’s always improving.
  • It’s popular!

When to Use Python

  • Putting up websites.
  • Analyzing data.
  • Building robots.

Most use cases!

When NOT to Use Python

Other programming languages exist - Python isn’t great for everything!

  • Mobile apps
  • Huge programs
    • Python is interpreted - the computer reads it as it goes.
    • Other programming languages are read in advance!
  • Sometimes too easy
    • Easy to expect things to work that don’t!

Pseudocode

  • Writing out your program in simple, step-by-step instructions using plain English.
  • Not a programming language!
  • Something you should always do.
First, open the fridge.
Then, take out the cheese.
Then, close the fridge.

Group Exercise: Programming in Pseudocode

Let’s write pseudocode that gives instructions on how to {give someone a high five}.

Include every step required. Remember, computers are very literal!

Comments

  • Programmer notes in code.
  • The computer ignores them.
  • Write your pseudocode here!

Our First Line of Code

Q&A and Summary

Any other questions?

Let’s rock!