how I got started learning Python 🐍💻👾
I’ve been learning Python this summer to prepare for my research lab and courses in the fall. Programming isn’t required for my major, so I’m taking the time to learn it alone. The biggest tip I can give is specific goals from the beginning! Speaking from experience, this will save a lot of time and trouble.
Ask yourself:
1. How do you plan to use Python in the future? Do you have specific tasks or just want a general understanding?
➡️ I will be using Python for data analysis for chemistry and physics. I chose to do a data specific course!
2. How much time are you planning to spend on learning the program?
➡️I only have a few weeks to learn how to use Python! I found a super short course that goes into enough detail and has practice problems! Most courses are self paced!
3. Which learning style suits you best?
➡️I love having practice problems and an easy to use website! I explored multiple different courses before finding one that worked for me. I also like taking notes and following along with tutorials.
4. Do you know any other coding languages?
➡️I didn’t know anything about computer science or coding before starting my course. I had to find tutorials on how to even get started! I also took a general introduction to coding course to familiarize myself with how coding works!
5. How much are you willing to spend on a course?
➡️I was looking for a free course and luckily, there were plenty of options!
It’s important to ask yourself these questions so you learn what is beneficial and interesting to you. I originally started a python course through EdX, however I wasn’t very motivated to do it because it was to general. The course also seemed like it was more geared towards website design, which wasn’t useful to me. I thought about the questions above and looked into courses specific to data analysis and found a great course showing how to use Python for analyzing data converted from excel!
#programmingtips #coding #codingproject #stemstudent #education
Learning Python is a rewarding journey, especially for beginners eager to dive into programming. Python's versatility makes it popular across various fields, from data analysis to web development. To maximize your learning experience, here are some essential tips: 1. **Set Clear Objectives**: Before starting, define what you aim to achieve. Whether it’s data analysis, machine learning, or web development, having a targeted goal helps streamline your learning path. 2. **Utilize Online Resources**: Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Codecademy offer free and paid courses tailored for beginners. Look for courses focusing on your area of interest, such as pandas for data analysis or Flask for web frameworks. 3. **Practice Regularly**: Hands-on coding is vital for mastering Python. Use websites like LeetCode and HackerRank to solve coding challenges that reinforce your knowledge and improve problem-solving skills. 4. **Join Coding Communities**: Participating in forums like Stack Overflow or Reddit's r/learnpython can provide valuable insights and support from experienced developers and other learners. 5. **Explore Python Libraries**: Familiarize yourself with popular libraries such as NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib that simplify tasks in data manipulation and visualization, enhancing your ability to work on real-world projects. 6. **Build Personal Projects**: Apply your skills to personal or open-source projects. Building something tangible helps consolidate what you've learned and improves your portfolio. By following these steps and staying motivated, you’ll find that learning Python opens up numerous opportunities in technology and data analysis.
I'm in a research lab right now. What website are you using to learn this stuff?