Teaching Python

We're two middle school teachers learning and teaching Python

About the show

Welcome to "Teaching Python Podcast,” the go-to podcast for anyone interested in the intersection of education and coding. Hosted by Kelly Paredes and Sean Tibor, this podcast dives into the thrills and challenges of teaching middle school computer science through the engaging and versatile Python programming language.

About the Hosts:

  • Kelly Paredes brings a wealth of global experience in curriculum design and currently inspires sixth and eighth graders at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Celebrating her seventh year of integrating Python into her teaching, Kelly has a knack for making complex concepts accessible and exciting.
  • Sean Tibor, a Senior Cloud Engineer at Mondelez International, draws from a rich background that spans marketing, database design, and digital agency leadership. Having taught Python to seventh and eighth graders at Pine Crest School, Sean now extends his expertise by supporting interns and tutoring students in Python.

Explore with Us:

  • Engaging Lessons: Discover how we make Python programming both fun and accessible for young learners, equipping them with the skills to tackle real-world problems.
  • Classroom Insights: Experience our journey through both triumphs and trials in the classroom, and learn what it takes to foster a vibrant learning environment.
  • Expert Interviews: Gain valuable perspectives from interviews with fellow educators and industry experts, who share their top strategies and success stories in coding education.

Teaching Python on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 88: Data Science Careers

    April 5th, 2022  |  48 mins 9 secs
    careers, data science, python, teaching

    We welcome Michael Galarnyk. Michael currently teaches Python for Data Visualization for LinkedIn Learning, Data Analytics using Python for UCSD Extension, Machine Learning Fundamentals for UCSD Extension, and Machine Learning with Python for Stanford Continuing Studies. He has previously taught Essential Python for Global Knowledge and Data Science (Python) at General Assembly.

  • Episode 87: Cybersecurity Careers

    March 23rd, 2022  |  42 mins 37 secs
    careers, cybersecurity, python
  • Episode 86: Thinking Globally

    March 6th, 2022  |  56 mins 15 secs
    futurism, predictions, technology

    In this episode, Sean and Kelly talk about the future. Looking into the past 20 years+ years of teaching and looking back at how we were taught as children, what has changed? Just as our teachers prepared us for our present, how are we preparing our students?

  • Episode 85: Teaching the Basics with Requests

    February 16th, 2022  |  43 mins 28 secs
    beginners, learning, python, requests, teaching

    Most people think of Requests as an intermediate or advanced area of Python, but what happens when we turn it loose on beginner programmers? Spoiler - lots of learning and surprises!

  • Episode 84: Global Computer Science with Will Richardson

    January 31st, 2022  |  46 mins 26 secs
    education, global, learning, teaching

    Continuing on conversations about tech for good, helping our students build global competence, and preparing our children to be successful in an ever increasing digital world, Kelly and Sean speak with Will Richardson, founder of the Big Questions Institute.

  • Episode 83: 2021 Year in Review (or something)

    January 17th, 2022  |  51 mins 4 secs
    2021, education, learning, python, reflection, teaching

    This week, Kelly and Sean look over all that happened in 2021 for Teaching Python and commit to some bigger goals for 2022. What were the highlights according to our co-hosts?

  • Episode 82: Helping Kids Navigate the Online World with Richard Culatta

    January 3rd, 2022  |  1 hr 4 mins
    coding, computer science, digital citizenship, education, teaching

    In this episode of Teaching Python, Kelly and Sean speak with Richard Culatta CEO of International Society for Technology in Education and author of the book, “Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World and discuss ways that we can keep kids coding and being “active citizens” in their online and physical world!

  • Episode 81: Holiday Gift Guide

    December 13th, 2021  |  35 mins 29 secs
    games, gifts, technology, toys

    It's the most wonderful time of the year as Kelly and Sean put together a gift guide for techie kids! From transformable robots to glowing toys to soldering stations, we cover the items on our lists for the holidays. Check the show notes for links that support the podcast!

  • Episode 80: Reaching for the Stars with Dr. Becky Smethurst

    November 29th, 2021  |  45 mins 46 secs
    astrophysics, education, python, science, space

    This week Sean and Kelly are joined by Dr. Becky Smethurst from Oxford to talk about code and science. Dr. Becky is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. Each week, she publishes a video on her YouTube channel explaining a bit about space,

  • Episode 79: Working with Student Data

    November 18th, 2021  |  39 mins 58 secs
    data, education, python, student data, teaching

    This episode is all about working with the data we generate for students, whether it's in the classroom, your school, or your district. Special guest star Rusti Gregory joins us to talk about his transition from the classroom to the data manager role.

  • Episode 78: Python Hardware in the Classroom

    November 3rd, 2021  |  1 hr 5 mins
    circuitpython, hardware, micropython, python, teaching

    Kelly and Sean revisit some of our favorite hardware that we use to teach Python. From the various versions of the BBC micro:bit to the ecosystem of CircuitPython boards, we talk about all the pros and cons!

  • Episode 77: The Power of Bots in the Computer Science Classroom

    October 15th, 2021  |  46 mins 1 sec
    finch, python, robotics, teaching