Preparing for Python programming Published July 2, 2009 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The three-dimensional virtual world has enabled the 81st Training Support Squadron's technology support unit to participate in the Air Force's first virtual instructor lead training. Last month, Keesler programmers and designers used Qwaq Forums to conduct two days of prerequisite training for Python programming language. A Qwaq Forum is 3-D virtual world collaboration software that allows users to communicate and participate remotely over the Internet. Suzy Sutton of Air Education and Training Command's technology requirements branch worked with Abacus solutions group contractors in San Antonio to organize the curriculum. David Smith, Qwaq's chief technology officer, led the training as a virtual avatar from his office in North Carolina. Capt. Kelly Just, deputy chief of the 81st TRSS training technology flight, said the training reached all the programmers and designers from the TSU, as well as two individuals in San Antonio, one at AETC and one with Abacus. Participants logged in from off-base locations, such as their homes or coffee shops with Internet access, rather than from computers connected to one of Keesler's servers with a ".mil" address while evaluation of the process continued. The two days of virtual prerequisite training was followed by two days of formal classroom instruction for TSU designers and programmers to learn Python programming. Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language that will allow programmers to expand and enhance the capabilities of the MyBase education and training environment at Keesler. October is the target date for Keesler's first virtual class.