With Python into the future!
Project title
With Python into the future!
Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries
University of Szczecin
Name of programme
Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development
Competition
Course at MOOC
Project value
PLN 163,425.00
Funding value
PLN 158,500.00
Project delivery period
01-10-2019 to 30-09-2021
Meet our team
See the result of our work
A video demonstrating a course made as part of the project
What problem does our project solve?
As digitalisation advances, the demand for IT professionals, especially programmers, is increasing: already last year, there were 1.4 million vacancies in this profession worldwide [1]. According to the TIOBE ranking, the most popular programming language in the world today is Python [2].
Mastering computer programming skills requires a lot of effort and time, so forms of learning that allow learners to be flexible in their choice of pace, time and place are particularly important. All this is provided by massive open online courses (MOOCs). Their usefulness further increased immeasurably after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many educational institutions were forced to switch to e-learning.
That is why, in our project, we decided to help solve the shortage of skilled programmers by developing and making available on the navoica.co.uk platform a massive open course in Python 3 programming.
[1] https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US48223621
[2] https://www.tiobe.com/tiobe-index/
Who is going to benefit from the project results?
Thanks to the fact that the course developed as part of the project is free of charge and published on the open navoica.pl platform, it can be used by anyone wishing to acquire programming skills in Python, from primary and secondary school students, through university students, to those already on the labour market, but wishing to broaden or improve their qualifications. By meeting WCAG 2.1 guidelines, the course can be used effectively by people with various forms of disability.
In turn, by developing two compatible language versions of the course (Polish and English), it is possible to teach groups of people with different countries of origin (e.g. Polish and incoming students) in a coherent manner. Since the launch of the first edition of the course on the navoica.co.uk platform, more than 1,600 people aged from teens to seventies have already taken the course.
Which aspect of the project implementation have we found to be the most challenging?
The biggest challenge for us was to strike a balance between the scope of the knowledge to be imparted (so that those completing the course feel that they have mastered specific skills that are useful in practice) and the difficulty and time consumption of the course (so that those with limited time are not discouraged from learning), while at the same time keeping it attractive to the audience (numerous examples, illustrations and video material, as well as interactive exercises and tests).
The highly positive results of the evaluation of all course editions so far by their participants prove that we have succeeded.
Our advice to other Applicants
In order to achieve a result that satisfies the audience, it is best to involve them in the creation of the intended solution from the very beginning - even if this sometimes requires them to give up their own visions or preferences.