Python curriculum updates

Author: kittylyst

advanced-python/PITCHME.md

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ RTFM: https://pip.pypa.io/
 
 ---
 ## Map
-Applies a function to list elements
+Applies a function to a list, element by element
 ```python
 names = ["sam", "john", "james"]
 map(len, names)
@@ -50,6 +50,15 @@ def sqr(x): return x ** 2
 map(sqr, map(len,names))
 ```
 
+---
+## Filter
+Remove items from a list
+```python
+def too_old(x): return x > 30
+ages = [22, 25, 29, 34, 56, 24, 12]
+filter(too_old, ages)
+```
+
 ---
 ## Lambda
 A function without a name
@@ -66,15 +75,6 @@ squares = map((lambda x: x ** 2), items)
 Note:
 What does "pythonic" mean - all programming languages expose the same fundamentals, but what makes one different from the other? Syntax & semantics, sure, but developers also like to build concensus around conventions. 
 
----
-## Filter
-Remove items from a list
-```python
-def too_old(x): return x > 30
-ages = [22, 25, 29, 34, 56, 24, 12]
-filter(too_old, ages)
-```
-
 ---
 ## Let's do it!
 ![Hack](/assets/img/hack-600.png)

intro-to-python/PITCHME.md

@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/what-is-python.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/hello-python.md
----?include=/intro-to-python/topics/data-types.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/string.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/numeric.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/list.md
----?include=/intro-to-python/topics/dynamic-typing.md
+---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/data-types.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/dictionary.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/tuple.md
+---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/dynamic-typing.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/conditionals.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/loops.md
 ---?include=/intro-to-python/topics/functions.md

intro-to-python/topics/conditionals.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 * allows us to affect the *flow of control*
 ```python
 sam = ("Sam Moorhouse", 1984)
-name, yob = sam
+(name, yob) = sam
 if yob < 1990:
     print (name + " is an old dude")
 else:
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ else:
 
 Note:
 * We cast the result of `raw_input` to `int`
+* What happens if we enter something that's not an `int`
 +++
 ### Conditional Operators
 

intro-to-python/topics/data-types.md

@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ Every variable has a type...
   * Tuple
   * Byte 
   * Byte Array 
-  * Range
+  * Range

intro-to-python/topics/dictionary.md

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 ## Dictionary
-A hash table
-* sequence of key-value pairs
-* efficient lookup & insertion
-* elements aren't ordered
+A hash table -- what does that mean?
+* An *association* -- a *key* is associated with a *value*
+* Like a dictionary that translates between languages
+* A basic data structure
+* Can be thought of as a list of pairs
+* Elements aren't ordered though
 
 +++
 ## Dictionary

intro-to-python/topics/dynamic-typing.md

@@ -1,30 +1,35 @@
 
 ## Dynamic typing
-* The *type* of a variable is determined at runtime
-* Not compile time
-* What's the difference?
+* Variables are storage that hold *values*
+* Should variables care what sort of values they hold?
+* This is another philosphical difference -- no right/wrong answers
+* Statically-typed languages: You have to say what sort of data variables can hold
+* Dynamically-typed: Variables can hold anything & can change their mind
+* Python is (mostly) dynamically-typed
 
 +++
 
 ## Dynamic typing
 * Useful for writing code quickly
 * Fewer compiler errors
 * Where do the errors go?
+* Are there any problems that come from dynamic typing?
 
 +++
 ## Dynamic typing
-Sometimes they go nowhere:
+Sometimes problems can hide:
 ```sh
 >>> print (names)
 ['John', 'Paul', 'George', 3]
 ```
 
 +++
 ## Dynamic typing
-Sometimes things break:
+Sometimes incorrect types break things:
 ```sh
 >>> len(3)
 Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
 TypeError: object of type 'int' has no len()
-```
+```
+The Traceback shows where the error occurred, and what sort of error it is

intro-to-python/topics/functions.md

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ print (tellMeASecret())
 def getHostPort():
     return ("nydev1", 3123)
 
-host, port = getHostPort()
+(host, port) = getHostPort()
 ```
 
 +++

intro-to-python/topics/modules.md

@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@
 +++
 ## Modules
 * `import package.subpackage.module`
+* You can install additional modules on your machine
 
 +++
 ## Modules
-* We're working mostly with functions 
-* Everything in Python is an Object
+* We're working mostly with functions
 * Python has *much* more
   * Classes and objects
   * Inheritance
+* In fact, everything in Python is an Object

intro-to-python/topics/string.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ## String
-Use "" or '', doesn't matter:
+Use "" or '', doesn't matter (unlike some other languages):
 ```sh
 >>> print ("hello" == 'hello')
 True

intro-to-python/topics/tuple.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ A way to join related data:
 hostport = ("accdev1", 3213)
 ```
 
-Tuple is immutable unlike python list 
+Tuple is immutable unlike a python list 
 
 +++
 ## Tuple
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ sam = ("Sam Moorhouse", 1984)
 ```
 * What does *1984* refer to? (Careful!)
 * Is there a better way?
-
+* How does this compare to maps?
 
 +++ 
 ## Tuple creation and destructuring
 
-Destructuring the tuple means getting the values from the tuple in separate variables
+Destructuring the tuple means getting the values from the tuple in separate variables:
 
 ```
 ho_techical = ("Ghana", 5000, "Engineering") 
@@ -34,4 +34,6 @@ print(no_student)
 
 # print type of college
 print(type_ofcollege)
-```
+```
+
+This is a form of what are called *records* in other languages