Python is commonly used for creating web pages, scientific applications and more. It is a powerful, flexible and easy-to-use programming language. In this 6 week class for the age group 10-12, students will learn about Scientific Computing in Python. There will be sessions once a week, each lesson is 60 minutes long. This course is somewhat advanced, however, everyone is welcome. I will use Replit to explain coding concepts and to show computations and visualizations. I am going to use lots of coding examples during the class. Students will also be able to practice programming in Replit. Week 1 - First, we will review basic skills in Python such as data types: strings and numbers, and booleans. Random numbers play a huge role in simulations. We look at if else statements, and for loops. Students also learn how to use functions. Week 2 - Students will learn about list comprehension. It offers a shorter way to create a new list given an existing list and for example a condition. Matplotlib will be introduced which is a plotting Python library. Students will see some graphs using this library. Week 3 - This session is about learning about basic statistical values like mean, median, mode and range. We will use histograms, and boxplots to visualize data distributions. We will use the built-in statistics library. Week 4 - Numpy is another useful Python library. It makes it easier to do mathematical computations. It provides an alternative to a regular list we used so far. We will use matplotlib and do some statistics in this session too. Week 5 - Students will learn about fractals. A fractal is a geometric shape with the following properties: complex and never-ending pattern, self-similar across different scales. We will look at tuples which is another useful data structure like lists. Returning multiple values separated in a function creates a tuple. Week 6 - We will create animations. Students will learn how to use the matplotlib library in this regard. To use different colors, we will use numbers between 0 and 1 by using the uniform function from the random library.
Students need a computer or a laptop for the class. Internet connection is required.
I would like to assist students to get knowledge in areas of Programming and Math. Students can build the foundation of programming with me. I can also help them solve intermediate and advanced coding problems. I will guid them on their projects as well. I have a passion for combining Math and Programming, for example solving Statistics in R or in Python, Math Olympiad and Algorithms in Python or in JavaScript.
I have over 10 years of experience in Programming. I have a Master's degree in Computer Science from Bonn, Germany. I have worked as an Android and Web Developer at Deep Look, inc. in Sunnyvale, California. I completed Elementary Statistics from West Valley College. I also completed Medical Statistics at Stanford University. Through all my studies and work I have gained expertise in programming languages like Python, R, Java, JavaScript and Scratch. I have made websites with HTML and CSS using Python and JavaScript based frameworks. I have also acquired a lot of experience in Math in High School in Hungary and during my first two years of study at the University of Bonn.
I strongly believe that in any area of expertise one needs to learn the basics first. It is necessary to have foundation before gaining deeper understanding and solving more complex problems. I can help students to learn foundational skills through lots of hands-on experience. I make lessons enjoyable by giving them interesting and challenging, but not difficult problems. After mastering the basics skills I can teach students how to solve problems by finding solutions more and more on their own: for example by combining what they have learned so far, or searching for programming knowledge on the web, which was not taught, but is needed for a solution. I think a lot of practice is important and beneficial at any level of the learning journey.
I have been teaching my son how to solve Math Olympiad problems since September of 2020. We also did some coding projects in Scratch in the last few years. Now he is learning Python with me. We have a lot of fun together. I also like hiking and being outdoors.