[Baypiggies] Suggestions on Python training for first programming language?

[James Nicholson]

My introduction to Python one year ago was through the Python Codeacademy
track <http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python>. It's free, has a user
friendly interface, and is easy to start, stop and pick back up again. For
someone completely new to programming, it took me about 3 months to finish.
I thought the course did a good job explaining the basics, and pointing the
student to important outside resources like the Python documentation. Also,
since it's free and can be started very quickly at any time, it's a great
way to see how much you actually enjoy programming without spending any
money.

I'm about to start a more intermediate 8-week course on April 8th (luckily
paid for by my employer) at UCSC Extension called Python for
Programmers<http://course.ucsc-extension.edu/modules/shop/index.html?action=section&OfferingID=1531625&SectionID=5274428>.
I'll try to followup on this thread after I'm done with some notes on my
experience there.

-James

James Nicholson
nicholsonjf.com


On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 6:28 PM, Shannon -jj Behrens <jjinux at gmail.com>wrote:

> I heartily recommend Hackbright Academy as well, based on all the women
> I've met from there.
>
> If all she wants is a book, I know a lot of people have had success with:
> http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science/dp/1887902996
>
> There are Python classes on Code Academy, Udacity, Cousera, code.org (I
> think), etc. However, I haven't seen as many people make it all the way
> through those.
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 4:17 PM, Marc Abramowitz <msabramo at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> My company (SurveyMonkey) has hired several graduates of:
>>
>> http://www.hackbrightacademy.com
>>
>> It's a 12 week intensive course in web development using Python for
>> women. It's in San Francisco.
>>
>> If your friend is interested, I could help introduce her to one of our
>> HackBright alumni, if she wants to ask them questions about it.
>>
>> -Marc
>> http://marc-abramowitz.com
>> Sent from my iPhone 4S
>>
>>
>> > On Mar 30, 2014, at 6:28 PM, seth f <sfseth at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi folks,
>> >
>> > I have a good friend of 20+ years that seems curious about getting more
>> technical.   She's whip-smart, super creative, and frustrated with her
>> current gig, which I gather is like somewhere in between editor of content
>> and QA.
>> >
>> > My initial reaction was, the Python community especially around here is
>> super cool, of course that's what my first thought is.  Get above (or
>> below) the content level, get to the machinery at work, a happier life
>> exists.
>> >
>> > Question to the group, I ask on her behalf: can anyone recommend any
>> particular python classes?  Or is anyone doing tutoring kind of stuff?   jj?
>> >
>> > It would sadden me to see her go off into PHP or Perl lands, I think it
>> would be a couple of years of "wow" and then a world of despair.  Java I
>> think the corporateness would get to her right off.
>> >
>> > So of course I'm biased but I suggested Python... I suggested Ruby too,
>> with the caveat that I just found Ruby to be cutesy, and both of us are
>> pretty dark in our senses of humor.
>> >
>> > Anyway, if we've got any Python educators on the list please let me
>> know.
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> > seth
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>
>
> --
> In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with
> great love. -- Mother Teresa
>
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