Summary
In this video I explain two main things: the administrative details for our upcoming Socratic Seminar and a hands‑on review of Python functions in Google Colab. I begin by reminding everyone that seminar sign‑up closes on the 25th, the full proposal is due November 1, and early drafts receive feedback. Each proposal must include a brief topic description, its relevance to the class, and at least two scholarly sources. The annotated bibliography must be submitted 48 hours before the presentation, and presentation slots lock 48 hours in advance. All rubrics and the assignment description are posted in the module, and I stress choosing a specific, well‑researched topic.
Switching to programming, I address student frustration with core concepts by encouraging open dialogue and then demonstrate how to define and use functions. I show the syntax (def, indentation), how to pass multiple parameters, and why cell execution order matters in notebooks. I contrast print (which only displays) with return (which sends a value back to the caller) by modifying a greeting function and building a BMI calculator that returns a numeric index and formats the output with f‑strings. I further illustrate conditional logic with a medication‑dosage function that adjusts doses based on age, weight, and a pediatric flag.
For practice, I assign a notebook task: create a function that receives height and weight, computes BMI, and returns the appropriate classification string (underweight, normal, overweight, obese). Students must run all cells and submit the notebook by Wednesday midnight. I also note upcoming class activities—a Flappy Sebastian assignment due Wednesday and a possible extra session on Friday.
Action items: sign up for the seminar by the 25th, submit the topic draft early, prepare the bibliography 48 hours before your slot, complete the BMI‑classification function notebook, and upload it by the Wednesday deadline. These steps ensure both the seminar and the programming components progress smoothly.