Student Centric Pragmatic Approach to Impart Concepts of Python Applications Programming

Project Based Learning (PBL) typically needs critical thinking, problem solving capability, collaboration, and different forms of communication. To cope-up with the technological standards and create superior work, it is essential for students to do significantly more than memorising the shared information. They need to use superior intellectual skills and learn to work in team. To ensure our students are engaging in quality Project Based Learning, department of Computer Science and Engineering, Malnad College of Engineering has attempted a framework to learn a programming course in a deeper way by exploring local problems and challenges. Python programming typically being a programming language needed an alternative teaching methodology to impart students the necessary technical skills and problem-solving capability. Hence, a systematic approach motivating the students to understand the syntax and apply the same to provide simple solutions to local problems was adopted. The approach started by assigning certain topics of the course to the students. These topics were presented to their peers at the end of second month of the semester. This improved active learning by the students. The syntax and contents facilitated by the students helped them to come out with excellent solutions to local problems in the form of projects. The process focussed much on improving critical thinking, problem solving, communication, team work and better understanding of the concepts among the students. The approach resulted in improved learning abilities of the students and exhibited effective collaborative learning skills. Also, the projects developed provided solutions to the local problems of the society. The success rate of implementation of student-centred approach to impart programming concepts, paved way for following the same approach to teach other programming languages.