👩‍🏫 Python Coach - Teacher Guide

What is Python Coach?

Python Coach is a live, browser-based Python learning platform designed specifically for GCSE Computer Science (AQA 8525, OCR J277, Edexcel 1CP2).

Core features:

• 27 Interactive Lessons - Full curriculum coverage with live code examples
• 134 Challenges - Auto-graded practice with instant feedback
• Live IDE - Real Python interpreter in the browser (no setup required)

Key advantages:

• Zero installation - runs entirely in modern browsers
• Works on school Chromebooks, tablets, and desktops
• No student accounts or data collection
• Fully offline-capable after first load

First Time Setup (2 minutes)

1. Navigate to the Python Coach homepage
2. Click "Get Started Free" or any feature tile
3. No login required - students can start immediately

Student Workflow

Students follow this sequence:

1. 📚 Lessons - Read concept explanations with live examples
2. 🎯 Challenges - Practice with auto-graded exercises
3. 💻 IDE Mode - Experiment with free-form coding

Browser Requirements

• Chrome 90+ (recommended)
• Edge 90+
• Safari 14+
• Firefox 88+

Note: Works offline after initial load (uses service workers).

Typical Lesson Structure (50-60 minutes)

1. Introduction (5-10 min) - Teacher demonstrates concept using IDE mode or lesson view
2. Guided Practice (15-20 min) - Students work through assigned challenges
3. Independent Work (20-25 min) - Students progress at their own pace
4. Wrap-up (5 min) - Review common mistakes, preview next topic

How to Assign Work

• Direct students to specific lesson numbers (e.g., "Complete Lesson 4: Data Types")
• Or assign challenge ranges (e.g., "Complete challenges 4A-4E")
• Students track their own progress via the progress bar in the main navigation menu

Live Demonstration Tips

• Use IDE Mode for live coding demos
• Open Cheat Sheet in a second tab for quick syntax reference
• Use Dark Mode for projector visibility (toggle in menu)
• Press Ctrl+F in Cheat Sheet to search for specific syntax

Supporting Struggling Students

• Hints system - Each challenge has 3 progressive hints plus a full solution
• Cheat Sheet - Provide as a reference tab alongside challenges
• Pair programming - Seat students in pairs to debug together

Stretching Advanced Students

• Bonus challenges - Each lesson has advanced "E" challenges (marked with difficulty level)
• IDE Mode - Encourage experimentation beyond challenge requirements
• Code golf - Challenge students to solve in fewer lines
• Peer mentoring - Pair advanced students with those who need support

Pacing Guidance

Beginner challenges (A-B): ~5-10 minutes each

Intermediate challenges (C-D): ~10-15 minutes each

Advanced challenges (E): ~15-20 minutes each

Note: Times are estimates - adjust based on your students' experience.

What to Look For

When circulating the classroom, check for:

• Green checkmarks in Success Criteria (right panel) - indicates challenge completion
• Output panel (bottom-left) - shows if code is running correctly
• Progress bar (menu) - shows overall completion percentage

Evidence of Learning

Students demonstrate understanding through:

• Completed challenges with passing success criteria
• Ability to explain their code verbally
• Debugging skills when encountering errors
• Applying concepts in new contexts (IDE Mode experiments)

Data & Privacy

Important: Student data is stored securely. Students retain ownership of their progress even if a class is archived.

This means:

• Without an account, all progress is stored locally in the browser
• With an account, progress syncs to the cloud so teachers can track it
• Deleting a class removes the class and enrolment links but does not erase student progress
• See our Privacy Policy for full details on data handling and student rights

Common Issues

1. "Code won't run" or "Output panel is empty"

• Check for Python syntax errors (red underlines in editor)
• Ensure print() statements are included if output is expected
• Try clicking Run button again
• Hard refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R (or Cmd+Shift+R)

2. "Challenge won't mark as complete"

• Read the Success Criteria carefully (right panel)
• Check if all 3 criteria have green checkmarks
• Output must match expected behavior (not necessarily exact text)
• Use Hint 3 or Solution button if stuck

3. "Dark mode looks wrong" or "Text is invisible"

• Click menu (☰) → Dark Mode toggle to reset
• Hard refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R

4. "Progress disappeared"

• Progress is stored locally in browser cache
• Clearing browser data will reset progress
• Switching devices or browsers will show fresh progress

Browser-Specific Issues

• Safari: May need to enable JavaScript in Settings
• School networks: Ensure WebAssembly is not blocked by filtering
• Chromebooks: Should work out-of-the-box (preferred platform)

Debug Information

Click the 🐍 emoji in the top-left header to copy diagnostic info to clipboard. This helps with bug reports.

Get Help or Report Issues

Use the Send Feedback link in the menu (☰) to:

• Report bugs or technical issues
• Suggest new features or improvements
• Share classroom success stories
• Request additional lesson content

When reporting issues, please include:

• Browser type and version (Chrome 120, Safari 17, etc.)
• Device type (Chromebook, Windows PC, iPad, etc.)
• Specific lesson or challenge where issue occurred
• Screenshot or description of the problem
• Debug info (click 🐍 emoji in header to copy)

Professional Development

Interested in Python Coach training for your department? Contact us via the feedback form to discuss:

• Staff training sessions
• Custom curriculum alignment
• School-wide deployment