Data Science Training Intensive · NC State University Libraries

Introduction to Programming with Python

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 9:00–11:30 am · East Learning Lab A

From installing Python to writing your own function, on your own laptop in JupyterLab. Google Colab is the backup if an install gets stuck.

What you’ll leave with

Before you come

  1. Bring a Mac or Windows laptop you can install software on, and its charger. uv needs no admin rights.
  2. Do the Setup page ahead of time if you can. It takes about 15 minutes, and a two-minute video shows every step. We’ll also do it together at the start.
  3. Get a Google account, NC State or personal, for the Colab backup.
  4. Already use conda (Anaconda, Miniconda or Miniforge)? The Setup page has conda steps too.

The materials

SlidesThe live session, step by step Setup guideInstall uv and JupyterLab, and fix common problems Learner notebookDownload it, then drag it into JupyterLab Filled notebookEvery answer, to check your work Colab backupIf your install gets stuck, work in your browser Cheat sheetKeys, syntax and common errors on one page

After the session: two data activities

How people spend their dayClean a time-use survey, then compare chores and leisure (about 45 min) Campus café salesFix a bad price, then see if weather changes what sells (about 35 min)

Today’s plan

Time What we’ll do
8:30 Check-in and refreshments, here in East Learning Lab A. Want a head start? Begin the Setup page.
9:00 Welcome
9:05 Install Python with uv (or conda), make your project, add JupyterLab
9:20 Download the notebook and open it in JupyterLab (not running by about 9:30? switch to Colab)
9:28 Find your way around JupyterLab
9:41 Part 1: variables, data types, lists, dictionaries and arithmetic
10:11 Break
10:16 Part 2: comparisons, if, for, methods and your own functions
11:01 Wrap-up and next steps
11:10 Practice, questions and install help
11:30 Wrap-up, discussion and the post-training survey with all three tracks, in East Learning Lab A

More AI workshops from us

  • Colab and Chill: A Vibe Coding Approach to Exploratory Data Analysis using AI
  • Agentic Coding with Claude
  • Working with Local LLMs
  • Build Your First Public Portfolio with GitHub: AI, Version Control, and IDE Basics

Dates and sign-up for these and every other Data Science Services workshop: go.ncsu.edu/datavizworkshops

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Content is licensed CC BY 4.0, and code MIT. Built from the Getting Started with Python workshops.