What: This hands-on workshop will introduce you to the basic concepts of one of the world's most popular programming languages, Python! This introduction to Python will include concepts such as data types, variables, operators, if statements, and loops (don’t worry if these terms are unfamiliar; they will be explained in the workshop).

Why: Interested in learning to program but don't know where to start? This workshop will help you establish a foundation to start exploring Python and get rid of any nervousness you might have about learning to code. Learning coding skills will help you automate repetitive tasks; clean, analyze, and visualize large data sets programmatically; and make you stand out in the job market.

Software: Python is free to use. We will be using Jupyter Notebooks (also free to use) for the session, which is a browser-based programming environment, so no software setup is required.

Who: This workshop is designed for absolute beginners with no previous experience with programming. Skills gained can help participants from any discipline: Humanities, Social Sciences, or Sciences.

When: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 2-4:30pm Where: Online via Zoom link (provided upon registration) How: This is a 2.5-hour in-person workshop, consisting of a series of short explanations and demonstrations, interspersed with breaks for self-paced activities. One instructor will be demonstrating while the other will be available on chat providing assistance. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask any questions and practice as we go! There will be one short break in the middle of the workshop.

Code of Conduct: Map & Data Library (MDL) workshops are a welcoming and inclusive environment for learning. To learn more, check out our Code of Conduct.

Accessibility: The MDL is committed to making our workshops accessible to everyone. If you require an accommodation to fully participate in the workshop, please contact Neil Aitken (neil.aitken@utoronto.ca) to discuss options.

Complementary Learning Materials: Check out our Getting Started Guide for an older recording of this workshop and more tutorials.

Join your peers to meet new people and learn new skills in a welcoming and encouraging environment!

An Introduction to Programming for Absolute Beginners Using Python: Part 1

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