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Data structures in Python

Hands-on team activity for assigning features and use cases to different data structures.

Parameters:
Duration: 25 minutes
Participants: 6–30 students
Instructors: 1–X teachers (ideally 1 per 6-8 participants)
Class: table for each group
Resources: printed activity cards
Prerequisites: have seen the data structures

Learning outcomes

  • Know different data structures in Python (list, tuple, set, dictionary) and their properties.
  • Justify selection of the appropriate data structure for selected use cases.

Setup and preparation

  • Print the set of paper cards for each group.
    • Use one-sided printing.
    • If possible, print on paper of 3 different colors: names and examples of the data structures on the first, features on the second, and use cases on the third. This will help both you and the students.
    • Cut the pages into individual cards.
  • Print an answer table for each instructor.

Activity overview

  1. Let people divide into groups of 3–4 people each as they see fit.
  2. Give each group the cards with data structures and their features (first three pages).
    • Task for the group: Assign given features to the data structures. If a feature applies to multiple data structures, you have it multiple times.
    • After the group reads the features, make sure they understand all of them (especially those like mutability).
  3. When a group is finished, give them the cards with real-world use cases (the last, fourth page).
    • Task for the group: Choose the appropriate data structures for the given use cases and justify your selection.
  4. When two groups are finished, have pairs of the groups compare their selection of data structures for the given use cases. Let them justify their choice to the other group.
    • If there are enough instructors, keep one instructor with each pair of groups.
    • When relevant or asked for, offer your own opinion or extra information.
  5. (Optional) When a group is finished but others are still working, have them think of other use cases when they would use the data structures.
    • The students might not understand what a use case is. Explain what exactly you want from them.
  6. (Optional) When a group is finished but others are still working, have them experimentally measure the timing of basic operations in various data structures. This prevents the faster groups from being idle.
    • Create a list and a set with a thousand, a million, or a billion elements by gradually appending numbers in a for loop starting from 1.
    • Create large lists and tuples using the range function.
    • Insert elements into list and set.
    • Lookup elements in the list, tuple, and set.
  7. When everyone is finished, invite the whole class to ask further questions or give feedback on what they learned.
  8. Preferably, continue with a programming exercise that practices data structures.

Tips and tricks

  • Once the groups form, work with them individually if there are enough instructors (there is no need to have them perfectly synchronized).
  • The groups should use the table (as opposed to laying cards on the floor) and have enough space on it. The full matching takes quite a lot of space (and working on the floor for long tends to become uncomfortable).
  • Before giving a new set of cards to a group, check their matching according to the answer table. If there is enough time, have them correct their own mistake instead of pointing it out straight away.
  • Group size is up to your choice, but 3–4 people turned out best (enough for discussion but still keeping everyone engaged).
  • The activity will progress faster with skilled participants and slower with less skilled ones.

Related material

Author

This activity ripped off was inspired by Martin Ukrop's Encryption modes and was written down by Valdemar Švábenský in 2018.