Introduction to Python Class for Adults 2025

Welcome to the Community STEM Workshop page, run by the University of Maryland, Balloon Payload Program!

If you are here, you are probably a student of the workshop, an interested learner, or a member of our club. This page has all of the resources from our workshop lessons: presentations, documents, codes, files, extra pamphlets, and challenge exercises!

Workshop Lessons

Lesson 1: Coding Basics

In this workshop, we learned the basics of Python programming, and combined them together to make a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" videogame where you can challenge your computer!

Week 1 Presentation
Week 1 Notes + Extra Problems!

Lesson 2: Rock, Paper, Scissors!

In this workshop, we finished our version of Rock, Paper, Scissors and started talking about loops and arrays (lists)!

Week 2 Presentation
Example Rock Paper Scissors Code
Advanced Rock Paper Scissors Code

Lesson 3: Objects and Functions

In this lesson, we introduced the idea of objects and classes. New ways to organize your data, critical for any code you create! We also talked about functions, which take in information and output something useful.

Week 3 Presentation

Lesson 4: Tkinter and User Interfaces

In this lesson, we talked about using Tkinter, a built-in Python library, to create a graphical user interface! GUIs are incredibly useful when you're making an app, since your user doesn't want to interact or see the command line.

Week 4 Presentation
Tkinter Sandbox with Sample Code!