Python Classes: 11/13/2020-12/18/2020
By Anila Chundi
The FRC Skywalkers team worked with SEWA Bay Area ASPIRE to teach underprivileged children ages 7-12 about basic Python programming and how to draw in python. The teachers (Krish Parikh, Tanvee Priyadarshan, Anila Chundi) compiled a curriculum that included learning how to draw basic shapes, coloring, python libraries, and spirals. We used google classroom as a forum for posting assignments, lecture notes, and practice problems. We used repl.it to write all of our programs because it was free and convenient for our students to use. Our goal with teaching these classes was to inspire younger students to become interested in programming like the members of our team are, and to hopefully open a door to exploring various subjects in the STEM field.
We taught a 5 week course, one class a week on Fridays, 5-6pm. Prior to the class, the teachers would work together to prepare a curriculum to teach on the day of the class, depending on where we left off in the previous class, where the students were in terms of understanding the concepts, and what we wanted the students to learn next. Throughout the course, our teachers adjusted coursework and the speed at which we taught our students rather than focusing on completing the curriculum. Our pre-planned curriculum is as follows:
Week 1: Get everyone registered on google classroom, repl.it. Python libraries + basic commands
Week 2: Basic Commands, Shortcuts to Basic Commands, how to draw with colored pens, supplementary angles
Week 3: supplementary angles review, drawing more complex shapes(hexagons, pentagons, etc.)
Week 4: For loops
Week 5: How to draw circles, spirals
Being able to help our community and promote the ideals and values of FIRST reminded us that the impact of our work as Skywalkers is far-reaching. Despite the pandemic, these children were able to continue to cultivate their love for engineering, robotics, and coding. As a team, we can see that the next generation of FIRST participants is eager to get started, and we cannot wait to see how they further elevate the playing field!