This entry follows the episode about the real life game of snakes and ladders, Episode 41 Game of snakes and ladders, where life is full of metaphoric snakes pulling us back. However, Python 3.0 (first released in 2008) the programming language named after a snake is really a ladder because Python is one of the common requirement for industries and academia. Linkedin is a business networking / job site and the job profiles are informative for young people to prepare / aspire for. So how will I introduce Python?

Abstraction is the key

I will take an example game and abstract the key ideas and concepts from the code and introduce the following as example.

• Variables, integers, strings etc.
• Logic – boolean true or false
• Conditional If loops – if then else.
• While loop – loop continues while condition is true
• For loop – from repeat a set number of times
• Random number e.g. Throwing two dice can be two random numbers from 1 to 6 added together
• How indent works in Python
• And so on.

Programming works really well with graphical representation. A clear flowchart can help structure the program and explain to others the purpose.

Combination with a boardgame

Board-games are fun with clear rules / steps / events and boundaries. Therefore, they can potentially be replicated with Python. I started “the play lots of boardgame club” to look at different aspects of a boardgame, like the gameplay, strategies, player interactions. This is another abstraction example, where I believe kids take the abstracted ideas and create their own games.

The game development opens up artwork concepts, writing, and many other aspects. The result will be a unique portfolio demonstrating different aspects of their understanding of what knowledge can create. A 13 year-old can talk about a versatile project that will become supporting evidence in their first interview. Their portfolio will be unique (hopefully relevant to the interview and hence interesting), stand the test of time to demonstrate resilience, technically challenging with use AI augmentation to their understanding. Compare and contrast to a simple good grade to the National Curriculum in a role that more than one hundred people applied to… Would that increase your 1%?