Python Programming

In this short unit we will be exploring the programming language python through a variety of activities. Lesson 1 starts with a bit of gaming fun! Work your way through the lessons at your pace - but be aware during your last lesson you will be asked to upload your best bit of code for marking!

You will utilise the following skills from previous units and year groups:

1. Coding skills from previous years and HTML unit just completed

2. Computational Thinking skills from the previous unit

3. Problem solving skills

4. Tenacity!

You will learn the following skills:

1. Introduce yourself to the coding language python

2. Apply computational thinking skills to your coding

3. Challenge yourself at your own rate to develop your coding skills as much as possible

Where this will/could take you:

1. Computational thinking and coding in year 9

2. GCSE Computer science

3. Develop your language skills...

4. A large and diverse number of IT jobs, not just in coding - See the list below...

Real-world Applications of Python

• Web Development. ...

• Game Development. ...

• Scientific and Numeric Applications. ...

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. ...

• Software Development. ...

• Enterprise-level/Business Applications. ...

• Education programs and training courses. ...

• Language Development.

You will work through the activities at your own pace - taking a screen video of your completed code in action. These videos will be uploaded to your computing books as evidence of the work you have completed.

Your coding will be graded according to the following criteria:

Emerging: Take a piece of pre written code and manipulate it (eg: change some printed words)

Developing A: You are able to follow a set of scaffolded instructions to write code which runs partially. 

Developing B: You are able to follow a set of scaffolded instructions to write code which runs partially. You will have tried to de- bug the error, with some success.

Mastery: You are able to follow a set of scaffolded instructions to write code successfully, run it and de-bug it.

Greater Depth: You are able to write a short piece of code on your own and/or take scaffolded code and manipulate it/de-bug it.

Variable

A named storage location that holds a value in a program.

Data Type

The classification or category of data that determines what kind of operations can be performed on it. Examples include integers, floats, and strings.

String

A sequence of characters enclosed in single or double quotes, used for representing text.

Boolean

A data type that can only have two values: True or False. Often used in conditional statements.

Function

A named block of code that performs a specific task. Functions can take input (arguments) and may return a value.

Loop

A programming construct that repeats a set of instructions until a specified condition is met. Examples include for and while loops.

Conditional Statement

A statement that performs different actions based on whether a specified condition is true or false. Examples include if, elif, and else.

List

An ordered collection of items. Lists in Python can contain elements of different data types.

Input

The process of taking data (usually from the user) and incorporating it into a program. The input function is commonly used for this purpose.

Print Statement

A command that outputs information to the console. The print statement is used to display messages and variable values during program execution.

Syntax/Syntax Error

The set of rules that dictate the combinations of symbols and words that form valid Python programs. 

Iteration

Iteration refers to the process of repeatedly executing a set of statements or a block of code. It allows you to perform the same sequence of operations multiple times, typically with some variations or until a specific condition is met (see loops).