Introduction to Jupyter Notebook and Google Colab

:dart: Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand what Jupyter Notebook is and why it's useful
• Create and use Google Colab notebooks
• Write and run Python code in code cells
• Format text using Markdown cells
• Save and access your notebooks later

:information_source: What is Jupyter Notebook? Jupyter Notebook is an interactive tool that lets you write and run Python code in small chunks. You can also add notes and explanations right next to your code!

:books: Why Use Jupyter Notebook?

Jupyter Notebook is one of the most popular tools that data scientists use. Here's why it's so great:

Markdown text helps you write notes with special formatting (like making text bold or italic).

Key advantages of Jupyter Notebook:

• All-in-one workspace: You can write code, run it, and see results all in the same place
• Test code easily: Run just one part of your code without running everything
• Share your work: Send your notebook to friends or teachers so they can see your code and results

:bulb: File Format Jupyter notebooks save as .ipynb files (stands for "IPython Notebook").

:emoji: What is Google Colaboratory?

Google Colaboratory (or "Colab" for short) is Google's free version of Jupyter Notebook. It works right in your web browser!

:memo: Why Use Google Colab?

• It's completely free
• No installation needed
• Works on any computer with internet
• Automatically saves to Google Drive

Learn more about Google Colab: Introduction to Colab Video

:rocket: Getting Started with Google Colab

Step One: Open Google Colab

Go to colab.research.google.com. Make sure you're signed in to your Google account.

Step 2: Create a New Notebook

Click on "New Notebook" to start your first Colab project.

Step 3: Name Your Notebook

Click on the file name to rename it. Keep the .ipynb extension at the end!

:bulb: Example For this lesson, we'll name our file: Intro.ipynb

:computer: Working with Python Code Cells

A Python code cell is where you write code that the computer can run. When you run the cell, you'll see the results right below it!

Code Cell Actions:

• :emoji: Add a code cell: Click "+ Code" to create a new code cell
• ▶️ Run a code cell: Click the play button or use keyboard shortcuts:
  • Cmd/Ctrl + Enter: Run current cell
  • Shift + Enter: Run current cell and create a new one
• ↕️ Move a code cell: Use the up/down arrows to rearrange cells
• :emoji:️ Delete a code cell: Hover over the cell and click the trash icon

:pencil2: Working with Markdown Text Cells

Markdown Text Cells let you write notes and explanations. You can make your text look fancy with different styles!

Markdown Formatting Guide:

• :emoji: Add a text cell: Click "+ Text" to create a new text cell

• # Headings: Use hashtags to create titles

  • # Big Title (1 hashtag)
  • ## Medium Title (2 hashtags)
  • ### Small Title (3 hashtags)

• Bold text: Wrap text with ** on both sides

  • Example: **This is bold** -> This is bold

• Italic text: Wrap text with * on both sides

  • Example: *This is italic* -> This is italic

• Strikethrough: Wrap text with ~~ on both sides

  • Example: ~~This is crossed out~~ -> This is crossed out

• Links: Use [text](URL) format

  • Example: [Click here](https://google.com) -> Click here

:emoji: Finding Your Saved Notebooks

Where are my notebooks?

All your Colab notebooks automatically save to Google Drive!

1. Go to Google Drive
2. Look for the "Colab Notebooks" folder
3. Navigate: My Drive -> Colab Notebooks
4. Double-click any notebook to open it

:memo: Auto-Save Feature Google Colab saves your work automatically every few minutes. You don't need to worry about losing your progress!

:emoji: Quick Summary

You've learned about:

• Jupyter Notebook: An interactive coding environment
• Google Colab: Google's free version of Jupyter Notebook
• Code cells: Where you write and run Python code
• Markdown cells: Where you write formatted text and notes
• File management: How to save and find your notebooks

:emoji: Video Tutorial

:emoji: AI Practice Prompts

Try these prompts with AI to practice what you've learned:

Beginner Prompts:

• "Help me create a markdown cell with a title, some bold text, and a link to my favorite website."
• "Show me how to write a Python code cell that prints 'Hello, World!' and my name."

Challenge Prompts:

• "Create a markdown cell that explains what a variable is, using all the formatting styles we learned."
• "Write a code cell that asks for the user's name and then greets them."
• "Help me make a notebook that combines text explanations and code to teach someone about basic math operations."

:bulb: Practice Makes Perfect! Try creating your own notebook with:

1. A markdown cell introducing yourself
2. A code cell with a simple calculation
3. Another markdown cell explaining what your code does