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Python

Posted by jrharo92
jrharo92
1,281 Points

Having trouble learning Python with the new instructor(s)

Hello! I am learning Python as a start to learning programming and I am liking the course so far. I watched the videos from Craig, practicing alongside the lessons, working on the quizzes and projects, and was making progress in the course.

However, after a certain point the instructor changed and it feels like I am in a whole different python course. While the new instructor is nice, the change was abrupt and disorienting. The learning methods are different, the instructor uses different terms (I am still confused why the instructor switched from typing python to python3 in the RELP (python3 testing.py)), and it feels unclear how what I am learning applies to python.

For example, with Craig each new lesson built upon what was just learned and we are shown how it works in conjunction with what we learned in previous courses, shows us overall applicability, and we are tested at the end of the course to see if we fully grasped what was learned. However, with the new instructor, it was unclear how the course fit in with the overall track (the first course it kind of felt like I was relearning concepts that were already taught), it doesn't feel like he knowledge builds upon previous courses (whereas the previous courses would build up to the current course), and doesn't feel like I am learning, as there are almost no exercises and tests or anything that helps to work or practice or apply what we learned. Each course feels like I walked into a new lecture. Lastly, after looking over the course track, I noticed that the instructor is going to change again, and I am dreading how this will affect the course.

I don't know if the problem is with such a big shift in teaching method, whether the instructor is teaching in a way I am not used to, or if the problem is me, but either way, I haven't felt that I've really learned anything in the past few courses and my progress has been floundering and spotty the past few months. I apologize if i am being unclear in the problem I am running into, but I really need help with learning the new material.

mouseandweb
mouseandweb
13,758 Points
mouseandweb
mouseandweb
13,758 Points

You're not alone. You can see in the comments/questions for each section where students at times will make the same remarks. Teaching styles do differ among instructors and sometimes a student gets thrown off. I noticed some instruction I found lacking as well, and found comments in the lessons from students who shared my feelings. I took this as an opportunity to assess if I was moving a bit faster than I was understanding. This was the Flask track, by the way.

I would also suggest checking out other sources to hone your knowledge and to learn from different people. No one source will give you everything you need, even if you pay for it. I would like to make some suggestions that may help you on your python learning journey, but first I'd like to know what track you're currently on? How far along in your python learning are you now?

good luck!

PS. Python is being called with python3 instead of python because python3 tells the computer to use python3.xx instead of python2.xx. Python 3 is still relatively new and lots of programs have not been updated to Python 3 syntax, which is different from Python 2 syntax. For example, in Python 2 versions one may use the print command like this:

print 'Hello World!'

In Python 3 the print command syntax is as follows:

print('Hello World!')

You can read more about the differences between Python 2.x and Python 3.x right here, it's an article from GeeksForGeeks.org.

1 Answer

jrharo92
jrharo92
1,281 Points
jrharo92
jrharo92
1,281 Points

I am right now on Beginning Python: Python Sequences (I am about to finish that course up). Also, I will admit that due to life I haven't been on as much as I used to and thus have gotten a little rusty, so I am planning to do a quick refresher and go through some of the older lessons to brush up on my python knowledge.

Also, thank you for clarifying Python vs Python3. Does this mean I should be typing Python3 whenever i do coding from now on?

mouseandweb
mouseandweb
13,758 Points
mouseandweb
mouseandweb
13,758 Points

if you are using Python 3 you will use the command python3 instead of simply python.

The lessons in this track use Python3 so the programs you write are in Python 3 syntax. Python 3 can run Python 2 programs, but Python 2 cannot run Python 3 programs. So even though using python instead of python3 will work, it may be unreliable output. .. so yes, use python3 when running your Python programs in the console / command line.

I have been in and out of studying for many years before I started to become consistent. It took for me to really be excited about some projects I came up with that I thought would be great to complete. In January of this year I got serious again (started in 2016), but since April I have been at it nearly every day. The thing that got me back into Treehouse, and gave me the boost in confidence, was Charles Severence, Ph.D., University of Michigan. He has a youtube channel you must check out. This is the playlist on his youtube channel.

This is what helped me:

  • paused Treehouse membership and studied using a "textbook."
  • found Python For Everybody, a free book, edition by Charles Severance, aka Dr. Chuck.
  • Python For Everybody, PY4E, has many formats and totally free.
  • Went through this book chapter by chapter, completing every exercise and keeping those assignments in nested folders in my computer. (Need those bits of code to use in the future!).
  • IMPORTANT: Go through one chapter in the book THEN go to the respective video in the Python For Everybody playlist. Read the textbook chapter, try to understand, then watch the video for more insight. He is a great teacher!
  • WRITE PLENTY OF COMMENTS IN YOUR CODE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR FUTURE SELF WHAT IS GOING ON! COMMENTS WILL REDUCE THE HEADBASHING YOU DO TO REMEMBER WHY YOU CODED WHAT YOU DID.
  • The book is for beginners and does a wonderful job at explaining things simply.
  • got to the end of the book and felt very confident. Took about two weeks and I worked on about 1 chapter a day. I took it slow.
  • Start building a list of ideas. If you think of a cool idea for an app or program write it down so you have a list of things to try in the future when you're more prepared. This will help you with building your portfolio.
  • After finishing the book, come back to complete the Python tracks. The book would have taught you both tracks but TeamTreeHouse will go into much more depth on these subjects. I think if I didn't do PY4E before doing the Python tracks here I would have been very frustrated and possibly given up again.

Ok, that was a lot of info! So just go chapter-by-chapter in PY4E, watching the correlating video from the PY4E playlist after each chapter to solidify that new knowledge!

PS. Helping others helps us learn, so don't ever hesitate to reach out! Good luck!