The Wrestling with Python course was delivered in autumn 2013 and spring 2014. Each session was 2 hours and was delivered as a slide presentation and a set of practical exercises.
Feel free to use or adapt them for your teaching.
Spring/Summer 2015 Sessions
Tuesday 24th February
Tuesday 3rd March
Tuesday 17th March
Tuesday 24th March
Autumn/Winter 2014 Sessions
Tuesday 2nd December
Tuesday 25th November
Tuesday 18th November
Tuesday 11th November
Tuesday 4th November
Tuesday 28th October
Spring 2014 Introduction to Python
Go through the slides before having a go at the practical session. Each session builds on the next one, so make sure that you have a good understanding before moving onto the next one.
Session 1: Getting Started
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Session 2: Making Decisions
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Session 3: Repeating with Loops
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Session 4: Lists
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Session 5: Data Processing
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Session 6: Methods
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Review Session
This is a combined session that brings together the previous six sessions to provide a larger block of content that you can do all at once, or use as a revision exercise.
Practical notes pages here. Slides here. Small slides with space for notes here.
Further Python
These sessions build in the previous 6 to provide an introduction to more advanced features of the Python language. They also cover the basics of programming using objects.
Session 1: Cricket Exercise
Practical notes here.
Worked example for the cricket scores exercise here.
Homework, Python and Potatoes, here.
Session 2: Working with Methods
Session 3: Using Lists
Session 4: Using Classes
Session 5: Advanced Classes
Session 6: File Handling and Debugging
Slides here. Lab notes here. Programs to debug here.
An Introduction to Pygame
These sessions describe simple game development using the Pygame framework. Each session is presented as a slide deck and a set of exercises which are to be performed during the presentation.
The later sessions describe a game template which can be used as the basis of sprite based Python games.
Session 1: Getting Started with Pygame
Practical notes here. Slides here.
You can find some cheese here.
Session 2: Making a Game
Practical notes here. Slides here.
Session 3 : Games and Classes
Practical notes here. Slides here.
You can find a cracker here. You can find the CrackerChase Player class (for the labs) here. You can find a complete set of the labs for the session here.
Fully working CrackerChase game here. You will need to unzip this into a folder to play it.
Session 4 : Creating Games
Practical notes here. Framework here. Fully working Chased by Crackers here.
Session 5 : Game Structure
Practical notes here. Practical starter program here. Completed practical here (no peeking). Slides here.
Python Maze code here.
