Hi everyone!

Below is the text from the recruitment drive from the first band of brave snake charmers. We had such a good response that I’ve decided to run it again. This time we’ll have a good chunk of experience at running the course, so we’re going to see if we can get it done in only 10 weeks!

The idea is that we’ll have ironed out lots of the bugs, found the best analogies, etc. and we’ll be able to get the info into your brain really efficiently.

Same deal as last time:

  • 14 spots
  • $200
  • $100 back if you make it to week 7 and pass everything
  • $200 back if you pass the whole course.

Looking forward to seeing another 14 keen snek charmers!

You’ve heard about the power of Python. Perhaps you think that it comes from a big snake. :snake: Perhaps you know that it’s actually a programming language, but quite what that means you aren’t sure. Maybe you’ve even marvelled at someone wielding it’s immense power and wished that you could be a little bit more like them.

If you are one of a lucky band of 14 brave, snake charming, proto-nerds then you can learn the secrets of the giant snake!

The Sydney Computational Design Group is trying something new. We’re going to run a Python course to teach the skills you’ll need to start taking charge of the world around you with code.

The course will run on Tuesday evenings, from 6–8:30. It’ll be at BVN’s studio. It’ll start on the 14th of March 3rd of April and run for 14 10 weeks, with a week off in week 7. (You can also stop at that point if you need your MondaysTuesdays back.)

The course will be in two halves. The first part will be about learning the language, and how to use it. The second half will apply it to an urban-scale, open-data project.

It’ll be taught by Ben Doherty. It’ll be a mirror of the UNSW course CODE1161, which Ben is also teaching. That is the core course for the computational design degree’s first year. The course is already fully planned out; you can see the materials here. Because we’ll be a smaller group, we will be able to move a bit faster, so we can have slightly shorter sessions. It assumes no prior knowledge of programming at all. If you can work a VCR or post a Facebook status you are already ahead of the requirements.

“How much will this heady extravaganza set me back?” you ask. We’re trialling an odd way of doing things. The course will be $200, but if you pass the whole thing you get $200 back! Also, like a Sydney bus, if you tap off after the first half you get $100 back. This seems like lunacy, but we’ll see.

You’ll need your own laptop and the ability to install things. The course is taught on a virtual machine which keeps the course stuff separate to the rest of your computer.

If you have any questions then ask in the comments below, email me ([email protected]) or phone me 0403 866 250 (although I’m not very good with phone calls).

If you want to be a part of this great adventure then sign up here:

Here’s a summary of the exact details:

  • 13 10 classes that will teach you how to use the basics of python.
  • 6pm–8:30pm on Tuesdays Mondays.
  • Pay up front, get the money back if you complete the course.
  • Get $100 back if you stop at the half way point.
  • Course outline here.