Getting started with Python and JavaScript

These two half-day workshops for teachers and curriculum leaders will introduce General Purpose Programming in Python and JavaScript, with hands-on activities to create simple challenges and games.

Choose to attend either the morning workshop (JavaScript), the afternoon workshop (Python) or the full day.

• Learn the basics of writing programs in Python or JavaScript.
• Explore strategies for teaching programming.
• Discover a range of free resources to bring Python or JavaScript to the classroom.

The Victorian Curriculum sees students transition from block-based coding environments like Scratch to General Purpose Programming by Levels 7 & 8. Python and JavaScript are both popular languages at Secondary years, as well as Upper Primary years.

Workshop content

Both workshops will involve 3 activities:

• Coding an intelligent chatbot that uses sentiment analysis to determine if a human's responses are positive, negative or neutral and then responds accordingly.
• Coding a memory game where the challenge is to memorise ever more difficult sequences of numbers or words,
• Using JavaScript or Python to code the BBC micro:bit to run a reaction time challenge.

About the presenters 

Sanjin Dedić is a robotics engineer and an experienced educator in the field of Digital Technologies. Throughout his teaching career Sanjin has been at the forefront of the latest educational technologies. In 2013 he brought Arduino, 3D printing and the Maker movement ethos into the classroom. He has since authored Python curriculum in use by dozens of Victorian schools and co-authored a book on the BBC micro:bit, both aimed at students in Years 7- 10. He currently teaches at the King David School in Melbourne and works with Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria, Teacher Training Australia and The Digital Technologies Hub to share the latest in educational technology and pedagogical approaches with fellow teachers.

Nathan Alison taught Digital Technologies, VCE Computing and Software Development in Victoria for 11 years before beginning work for DLTV. 

He brings a background in Computer Systems Engineering and years of hobby coding, as well as a keen desire to help teachers with more complex Computer Science concepts through clear explanations and relevant activities.