So you want to learn Python, but aren’t sure where to start? This page will guide you through the resources available here at Arcus Education. The following is a suggested order, but you can always start in the middle or skip around depending on your experience level and preference.
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Getting started: For a curated list of learning modules related to Python (and a variety of other topics), see the Suggested Learning Modules page of the DART website and scroll down to Pathway 5: Analysis in Python (if you are curious about the DART program and research study, check out the DART home page). This pathway will take you from a general discussion of why you might want to choose Python, how to download Python to your own computer, all the way through data visualization, analysis, and even some opportunities to practice!
- Using Python notebooks:
If you are interesting in using Python in a notebook (a great tool for reproducible data analysis), the following resources will provide more information:
- Python Lab for Beginners
- Jupyter 101
- Cloud Tools for the Unconvinced- This article talks about Colaboratory, a Google product that lets you create Jupyter notebooks for Python programming completely online, without downloading anything to your computer.
- Applying Python:
- Creating network graphs- Intro to NetworkX
- Natural language processing- Natural Language Processing with NLTK and Comparing Parts of Speech with NLTK
- Using the REDCap API
These resources will just scratch the surface of what’s possible with Python! Ready to take the next steps?
- Consider joining CHOP’s Python User Group
- Start your own project! Try automating a work task (start small!), or ask a research question using some public data sources like OpenDataPhilly, the Census Bureau, or Kaggle.
- Need more personalized advice? Ask for an educational consult by emailing dlarcuseducation@email.chop.edu.
Good luck on your Python journey!