WEEK 2: PYTHONS GETTING HARDER!

WEEK 2

HOW I'M FEELING

I find myself drinking hot tea, and listening to beautiful background music as I write this, somewhat overwhelmed with the course work in front of me. OHHHH Python, what a two-week journey this has been. The URL for my Python lessons is sololearn.com/Play/Python. You can see how it says 'PLAY' in the URL, well let me tell you, this is NOO game. However, I have to say I have definitely enjoyed my time so far learning Python. I have actually learned a lot! It's quite surprising how much there is to a coding language. It's honestly just as hard as learning an actual language... well maybe not mandarin but close to Italian or French. Although this week has been stressful, it is mostly due to dealing with all my courses and learning Python at the same time. Learning Python is basically like having another class. But yes, I have really enjoyed learning it. It's just so satisfying to learn! It's like solving a complex puzzle and when you figure it out it feels like you have this knowledge that very few people in the world have. Fun fact, there are ONLY approx. 23.9 million developers in the world (people who can actually make functioning programs). That's only approx. 0.3% of the world's total population! The reason I find that number so astounding is that I think learning a coding language should be part of the curriculum under Math and Technology. Technology has shaped who we are in this day and age. We've advanced at a tremendous rate just in the last ten years, imaging what we could accomplish if everyone knew how to code. Like I said coding is like learning an actual language. So what if we started teaching it right from when humans are babies? That might sound silly but there are definitely ways you could implement a coding and problem-solving mindset at an early age, but I can't get into that now or this would turn into a research paper!

https://images.app.goo.gl/zei8ZWaNGmnbdtLN9

WHAT I LEARNED

So what did I learn in Python this week? I learned a lot of things that are hard to explain! I was actually only just able to finish the Control Structures module that is started last week. Some of the concepts discussed were quite hard to learn and understand. This is because I kept forgetting what different things did what as I was going through the module. I completed the following this week: Lists, List Operations, List Functions, Range, for Loops, and learned how to build a simple calculator program. I also had to review the while Loops concept. 

Example Question:

The first sentence gives us a list of integers. In lists, the first instance inside the list always is read as 0. So if you were calling a string, integer or whatever from a list you would call the first term with a 0, second with a 1, third with a 2 and so on. The second line outputs something from the list, this is denoted by the 'print(list)'. However, inside the brackets is [list[4] this is calling the list as well but the integer at position 4. This is where the 'BEDMAS' part of math comes into play, the inner brackets are solved first. So the 4 calls the 5 in the list, then you have print(list(5)) which finally outputs 8 from the list and that is the final answer. 

TROUBLE I CROSSED & Q'S I HAVE

Some trouble that I crossed was forgetting what a lot of things I learned in the past did in different situations. Once you start combining a lot of things you really have to make sure you memorize and fully understand all the different individual terms. Some other troubles I have crossed is not having enough time to finish and work on everything. There are definitely some questions I have that are very specific to certain things in Python. I believe the best way to answer those questions is to watch YouTube videos that explain the concept I am confused about as I am a very auditory learner.

WHERE I GO FROM HERE

There is still a lot to do from here on out. The next module I have to complete is Functions & Modules and I feel like that will be very important for me to learn. Then there are a whole bunch of other modules to finish. I am going to try to work as hard as I can with the time I have left. I am very excited to see how I feel at the end of this!