Using Deliberate Practice To Level Up Your Python

Summary

An effective strategy for teaching and learning is to rely on well structured exercises and collaboration for practicing the material. In this episode long time Python trainer Reuven Lerner reflects on the lessons that he has learned in the 5 years since his first appearance on the show, how his teaching has evolved, and the ways that he has incorporated more hands-on experiences into his lessons. This was a great conversation about the benefits of being deliberate in your approach to ongoing education in the field of technology, as well as having some helpful references for ways to keep your own skills sharp.

Announcements

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• Your host as usual is Tobias Macey and today I’m pleased to welcome back Reuven Lerner to talk about the benefits of deliberate practice for learning and improving programming skills

Interview

• Introductions

• How did you get introduced to Python?

• In your first appearance on the show back in episode 2 we talked about your experience as a Python trainer. How has your teaching style evolved in the past 5 years?

  • How has the focus and scope of your training changed in that time period?

• What have you found to be some of the most helpful and effective tactics in your training?

• From the learner perspective, what are some strategies that you recommend for retaining information, particularly in the context of gaining technical knowledge?

• In-person training vs. real-time online training vs. recorded videos, advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Blended learning, in which we combine aspects of the above

  • Beyond in-person training, what are your preferred methods for learning and maintaining new skills?

• What is deliberate practice and how does it differ from the habits that many of us might default to?

  • What are some of the resources that you provide for students of your trainings for practicing?
  • What are some of the outside resources which you have found most useful or effective?

Keep In Touch

• Website
• Blog
• @reuvenmlerner on Twitter

Picks

• Tobias
  • The Manager’s Path by Camille Fournier
• Reuven
  • Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable For The Rest Of Us by Dan Lyons

Links

• Deliberate Practice
• Reuven On Episode 2
• CGI == Common Gateway Interface
• Language Phrasebook
• Jupyter Notebook
• Walrus Operator
  • PyCon 2019 Presentation
• Python Bytes
• List Comprehension
• Weekly Python Exercise
• Python Morsels
• PyBites
• Practice Your Python
• Python Workout book by Reuven Lerner
• PyTest
• Brian Okken

The intro and outro music is from Requiem for a Fish The Freak Fandango Orchestra / CC BY-SA