Summary and Setup

This lesson introduces participants to using generative AI to help them learn to write Research Software in a computer programming language.

After completing this lesson, learners will be able to:

  • Identify and sequence learning goals in partnership with a Large Language Model (LLM) (L1)
  • Write prompts following good practice (L3)
  • Validate the output of an LLM (L5)
  • Analyse how simple programs work using an LLM(L4)
  • Code and test programs (L3)
  • Identify resources to learn the elements of programming (L1)
  • Compile exercises to master new skills in partnership with an LLM (L3)
  • Implement a strategy to continue learning (L3)

Note To Coauthors: I have tried to identitify Bloom’s competency levels using the ACM Bloom’s For Computing taxonomy, however I don’t feel that this version of of it captures genAI-related competencies very well. So any fresh perspectives welcome! - HD

Prerequisite

Prerequisites

This lesson is aimed at people with little or no prior experience of programming / research software. It assumes some foundational knowledge of probability and computers.

FIXME: Setup instructions live in this document. Please specify the tools and the data sets the Learner needs to have installed.

Data Sets

Download the data zip file and unzip it to your Desktop

Software Setup

Discussion

Details

Setup for different systems can be presented in dropdown menus via a spoiler tag. They will join to this discussion block, so you can give a general overview of the software used in this lesson here and fill out the individual operating systems (and potentially add more, e.g. online setup) in the solutions blocks.

Use PuTTY

Use Terminal.app

Use Terminal