Final-year students-led Guidance Sessions

Course: Introduction to Python Programming (BPLCK205B)
Class: Second Semester, A Section
Faculty Name: Dr. Annie Sujith, Associate Professor, Dept. of CSE
Dr. Annie Sujith, while teaching the course “Introduction to Python Programming” to the first-year students, invited a few exemplary final-year students to interact with them. These interactive sessions aimed to inspire and motivate first-year students by showcasing the achievements of their seniors, providing practical insights and real-world applications of Python programming that they can relate to, and encouraging them to engage in projects, internships, and other co-curricular activities early in their academic journey.
Final-year students were selected based on their exemplary academic and co-curricular performance. Criteria included high academic achievements, implementation of notable projects, participation in inter-college competitions (hackathons, robothons, paper presentations), and publication of papers in journals.
The senior students shared their experiences and insights and provided guidance and strategies for academic and co-curricular success. They showcased live demos of their implemented projects, highlighting the practical applications of Python programming. This demonstration aimed to inspire first-year students to initiate their own mini-projects. Information about useful platforms like Udemy, Course Era etc for gaining knowledge beyond the university syllabus was shared. Also, their recommendations included databases like Kaggle and GitHub for project ideas, code repositories, and collaborative opportunities. Seniors emphasized the crucial role of internships for gaining hands- on industry experience. They provided guidance on how to find internships, prepare applications, and leverage these opportunities for career growth. Also, tips were provided on time management, effective study habits, and balancing academics with co-curricular activities.
This innovative teaching method of integrating final-year students' experiences and guidance into the Introduction to Python Programming course significantly benefited first-year students. This approach fostered a more engaging and inspiring learning environment by providing practical insights, showcasing successful projects, and offering mentorship.