Computational Thinking & Learning Python During an AI Revolution

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Nov 17, 2023

Lawrence Gray, author of “Mastering Python: A Problem Solving Approach,” discusses the future of Python in AI systems and its cognitive benefits. He shares his personal journey of learning Python during a difficult time and how it changed his thinking. The podcast explores Python's uniqueness, its role in computational thinking, and preparing for an AI-driven future. They also touch on critical thinking, problem-solving, and the empowering feeling of fixing coding problems. Plus, they discuss computers' memory capabilities, deep learning, computer vision, and Lawrence's upcoming book release.

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ANECDOTE

Python as a Lifeline

Lawrence Gray, while a PhD student, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, impacting his cognitive abilities.
Discovering Python helped him relearn how to think, offering a structured approach to problem-solving.

INSIGHT

Python's Unique Structure

Python's structured nature and clean syntax uniquely supported Lawrence's cognitive recovery.
He built tools, scraped websites, and contributed to open-source projects, showcasing Python's versatility.

INSIGHT

Python's Readability

Python's readability makes it uniquely accessible, especially for beginners.
Its clear syntax and lack of excessive symbols made it easier for Lawrence to process than other languages.

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Has the current growth of artificial intelligence (AI) systems made you wonder what the future holds for Python developers? What are the hidden benefits of learning to program in Python and practicing computational thinking? This week on the show, we speak with author Lawrence Gray about his upcoming book “Mastering Python: A Problem Solving Approach.”

Lawrence shares how learning Python helped him through a dark and trying time. He developed lifelong skills that he wants to pass along through teaching and authoring a book.

We discuss what you can do to prepare for a future where coding jobs are automated through AI. He shares ways that Python can help build the higher-order thinking skills required by future careers. We also talk about how Python can help with computational thinking and promote cognitive development.

This week’s episode is brought to you by Site24x7.

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Topics:

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:02:29 – Learning Python and changing how you think
00:05:07 – What is the goal of the book?
00:05:59 – Discovering Python during a dark period
00:10:32 – What is unique to Python that helped you?
00:12:43 – How did you start teaching Python?
00:14:40 – Teaching Python to art students
00:18:52 – Sponsor: Site24x7.com
00:19:48 – Why write about computational thinking?
00:21:55 – Why learn Python now?
00:25:18 – Multiple modalities for Python
00:29:32 – Other optimistic thoughts on the future
00:34:15 – Reskilling a workforce
00:37:16 – What skills can be developed?
00:41:13 – Video Course Spotlight
00:42:40 – Bloom’s taxonomy
00:48:00 – Sharing the positive impact of Python
00:50:26 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
00:51:32 – What do you want to learn next?
00:52:45 – How can people follow your work online?
00:52:47 – Thanks and goodbye

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