diff --git a/_extras/guide.md b/_extras/guide.md index 8be2360..4f44cd0 100644 --- a/_extras/guide.md +++ b/_extras/guide.md @@ -3,6 +3,18 @@ layout: page title: "Instructor Notes" permalink: /guide/ --- + +## About the lesson + +Our real goal isn't to teach workshop attendees Python as a programming language, +but to teach them the basic concepts that all programming depends on. +We use Python in our lessons because: + +1. It is free and open-source software. +2. It is well-documented and runs on all platforms. +3. It has a large and constantly growing user-base which includes scientists. +4. It is easier for novices to pick up than most other languages. + ## Legend We are using a dataset with records on inflammation from patients following an diff --git a/index.md b/index.md index b8653bd..179dfb8 100644 --- a/index.md +++ b/index.md @@ -5,54 +5,40 @@ root: . The best way to learn how to program is to do something useful, so this introduction to Python is built around a common scientific task: -data analysis. +**data analysis**. -Our real goal isn't to teach you Python, -but to teach you the basic concepts that all programming depends on. -We use Python in our lessons because: +### Arthritis Inflammation +We are studying **inflammation in patients** who have been given a new treatment for arthritis, and +need to analyze the first dozen data sets of their daily inflammation. The data sets are stored in +[comma-separated values]({{ page.root }}/reference/#comma-separated-values) (CSV) format: -1. we have to use *something* for examples; -2. it's free, well-documented, and runs almost everywhere; -3. it has a large (and growing) user base among scientists; and -4. experience shows that it's easier for novices to pick up than most other languages. - -But the two most important things are -to use whatever language your colleagues are using, -so that you can share your work with them easily, -and to use that language *well*. - -We are studying inflammation in patients who have been given a new treatment for arthritis, -and need to analyze the first dozen data sets of their daily inflammation. -The data sets are stored in [comma-separated values]({{ page.root }}/reference/#comma-separated-values) (CSV) format: -each row holds information for a single patient, -and the columns represent successive days. -The first few rows of our first file look like this: +- each row holds information for a single patient, +- columns represent successive days. +The first three rows of our first file look like this: ~~~ 0,0,1,3,1,2,4,7,8,3,3,3,10,5,7,4,7,7,12,18,6,13,11,11,7,7,4,6,8,8,4,4,5,7,3,4,2,3,0,0 0,1,2,1,2,1,3,2,2,6,10,11,5,9,4,4,7,16,8,6,18,4,12,5,12,7,11,5,11,3,3,5,4,4,5,5,1,1,0,1 0,1,1,3,3,2,6,2,5,9,5,7,4,5,4,15,5,11,9,10,19,14,12,17,7,12,11,7,4,2,10,5,4,2,2,3,2,2,1,1 -0,0,2,0,4,2,2,1,6,7,10,7,9,13,8,8,15,10,10,7,17,4,4,7,6,15,6,4,9,11,3,5,6,3,3,4,2,3,2,1 -0,1,1,3,3,1,3,5,2,4,4,7,6,5,3,10,8,10,6,17,9,14,9,7,13,9,12,6,7,7,9,6,3,2,2,4,2,0,1,1 ~~~ {: .source} -We want to: +So, we want to: -* load that data into memory, -* calculate the average inflammation per day across all patients, and -* plot the result. +1. Calculate the average inflammation per day across all patients. +2. Plot the result to discuss and share with colleagues. To do all that, we'll have to learn a little bit about programming. > ## Prerequisites > -> Learners need to understand the concepts of files and directories -> (including the working directory) and how to start a Python -> interpreter before tackling this lesson. This lesson references the Jupyter (IPython) -> Notebook although it can be taught through any Python interpreter. +> You need to understand the concepts of **files** and **directories** and how to start a Python +> interpreter before tackling this lesson. This lesson sometimes references Jupyter +> Notebook although you can use any Python interpreter mentioned in the [Setup](setup/). +> > The commands in this lesson pertain to **Python 3**. {: .prereq} ### Getting Started -To get started, follow the directions in the "[Setup](setup/)" tab to download data to your computer and follow any installation instructions. +To get started, follow the directions on the "[Setup](setup/)" page to download data +and install a Python interpreter.