Python Workshops Successfully Concluded!
Tonight, we finished our final Python workshop for the semester. This was the concluding workshop in a series of three spread over the span of three weeks, made possible through partnership with Engineering Service Learning at UC Merced. The following are some photos taken of the series. I had a lot of fun creating, preparing, teaching, and doing these workshops!
These images are all scaled down to reduce loading time on your browser. If you would like the full resolution images, feel free to contact me. Images courtesy of our awesome historian, Brayan Justo Marcial, as well as myself.
This is the first time that we, the Solar Energy Association at the University of California, Merced, have ever done an in-person Python workshop series. Our previous two Python series, also in partnership with Engineering Service Learning, were smashing successes in their own rights, but they were virtual. Now that we’re back in-person, we took advantage of having physical access to materials to program some awesome quadcopter drones!
Many of these individuals started off three weeks ago with little to no programming experience. Over the span of three 90-minute sessions, they learned about logic, syntax, semantics, basic logical structures, functions, object-oriented programming, and more in addition to working in group environments to practice and apply their newly-learned knowledge. I couldn’t have asked for a better audience! We had a 100% participation rate and no student was left behind. I loved the enthusiasm and eagerness that everyone brought to the room. Truly, these students were amazing.
My favorite part of the entire event was when a woman in one of the groups – specifically the group led by one of our volunteer group leaders, Hans Guillen – screamed with ecstatic excitement, saying, “That’s so cool! I love that!” after they figured out how to make their drone do a flip. Seeing someone excited about programming in the same way that I was first excited about programming so many years ago reminded me of the happiness I felt then, and of the happiness that I still derive from computer science and engineering. I know she was really happy but believe me – knowing that someone else felt the same passion for programming that I did, knowing that I took a part in bringing them to that happiness – I can confidently say that her enthusiasm made me happier to hear than her to experience.
Our point of contact from Engineering Service Learning told us that it was the best event they’d ever had. I had poured hours and hours into preparation and work for this, and I’m so happy that it paid off. Our exit survey had a 100% satisfaction rate. I’m happy to have been a part of this. I’m grateful for everyone who came to make it awesome. This was a beautiful experience.
Now, my focus shifts elsewhere. I have two teams to lead: one for creating a miniature proof-of-concept solar panel array with a solar tracker system based on a mathematical model, and one for creating a new website for the Solar Energy Association from scratch. We have our big event coming up next month: “Hack the Power!” We have a couple of partnerships to talk through with IEEE and a potential sponsor that makes solar trackers. We’ve just started an e-bike and solar charging station project in collaboration with the Engineers for a Sustainable World.
There’s so much going on at the Solar Energy Association. I’m grateful to have so many awesome members stand alongside me and lead us to greatness, together. I know they see me as the spearhead, the leader, but I can truly say with full confidence: they are responsible for our collective success, not me. Every day we change the world, but to change it in a way that means anything to anyone – that takes more time than most people have. It never happens all at once; it’s slow, it’s methodical; it’s exhausting. We don’t all have the stomach for it. That’s why it’s important that we do it together. One step at a time, we’re going to change the world. Together.
Happy trails!