Episode 114: The EduBlocks Evolution and Josh Lowe

Way back on Episode 13, we interviewed Josh Lowe, then 15 years old and the creator of EduBlocks. When Josh was 12, he started a Saturday afternoon project to make a block-based coding IDE that generated Python code. Flash forward seven years and Josh still maintains EduBlocks as a software engineer on behalf of Anaconda. This week, Kelly and Sean caught up with Josh to learn about his educational journey since we last spoke with him, the latest developments on EduBlocks, as well as the new direction enabled by Anaconda's purchase of EduBlocks in May 2023.Special Guest: Josh Lowe.Support Teaching PythonLinks:Edublocks — EduBlocks is a free tool by Anaconda that helps anyone learn how to code with text-based languages like Python or HTML using a familiar drag-and-drop blocks systemAnacondaAnaconda Press Release Announcing Purchase of EduBlocks — Anaconda Inc., provider of the world’s most popular data science platform, today announced the acquisition of EduBlocks, a free, web-based, drag-and-drop coding platform built to help K-12 students learn fundamental skills. With EduBlocks, Anaconda expands its reach and offerings for K-12 schools as well as for beginner-level professionals.

Om Podcasten

Welcome to "Teaching Python Podcast,” the go-to podcast for anyone interested in the intersection of education and coding. Hosted by Kelly Paredes and Sean Tibor, this podcast dives into the thrills and challenges of teaching middle school computer science through the engaging and versatile Python programming language. About the Hosts: Kelly Paredes brings a wealth of global experience in curriculum design and currently inspires sixth and eighth graders at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Celebrating her seventh year of integrating Python into her teaching, Kelly has a knack for making complex concepts accessible and exciting. Sean Tibor, a Senior Cloud Engineer at Mondelez International, draws from a rich background that spans marketing, database design, and digital agency leadership. Having taught Python to seventh and eighth graders at Pine Crest School, Sean now extends his expertise by supporting interns and tutoring students in Python. Explore with Us: * Engaging Lessons: Discover how we make Python programming both fun and accessible for young learners, equipping them with the skills to tackle real-world problems. * Classroom Insights: Experience our journey through both triumphs and trials in the classroom, and learn what it takes to foster a vibrant learning environment. * Expert Interviews: Gain valuable perspectives from interviews with fellow educators and industry experts, who share their top strategies and success stories in coding education.