Mailman 3 March 2007 - Edu-sig

Python for Halloween
by kirby urner Oct. 21, 2007

Oct. 21, 2007

Something about using 'ghost' in place of 'self' in a Shell class (allusion to anime as well). Maybe I did something like this last year (having deja vu again). But I'm realizing edu-sig is no longer a preferred venue for my curriculum writing. I'd rather huddle with MIT, Bruce Sherwood, Alan Kay and play *against* Arthur's team. Arthur, you make too many enemies too quickly and too easily. Even more, I'm into my Portland Knowledge Lab (PKL) business (gotta pay that rent today) and want to make lots of Python and Synergetics teaching cartoons for HDTV (my Saturday Morning meme), with lots of brand name sponsors. But here is not the place to brainstorm in safety. Too many prying eyes and self-appointed kibbitzers. So I'm actually resigning this time. Don't expect me back any time soon. Probably won't be tracking either, at least not with any frequency. For me, it's a tilt towards private lists and closed source development (not exclusively -- I'm still a big supporter of a strong public sector). I'm learning why open source is a bad idea sometimes. I've talked to Stallman about this, though he probably doesn't remember -- I was in his audience in Portland and asked about situations when "they" simply *don't deserve* your best code. But I think more it's a matter of not wanting to show unfinished work (a big no no in Fuller's self discipline, according to 'Critical Path' I think it was). Kirby

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Re: [Edu-sig] [edupython] Python in Education Advocacy Article
by Laura Creighton April 3, 2007

April 3, 2007

In a message of Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:25:40 +0200, Laura Creighton writes: >A first programming language should be interpreted not compiled. It >should also not have type declarations. > >Laura correction: it should not have type declarations, unless it is Haskell, which is another pretty good first programming language, but which also can be described as 'nothing _but_ type definitions, with a little bit of language tacked on that makes it possible to run programs. :-)'. People who are learning how to program are learning how to write executable alogrithms. They need to get to the algorithm part as quickly as they can, with as little superfluous junk as possible. Learning to write algorithms is hard enough as it is. Everything from braces and begin/end blocks, and all the stuff you learn in order to make things easier for the compiler or interpreter to generate code are things that only get in the way of the novice programmer actually learning how to write algorithms. Laura

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Metaphor-oriented programming
by james＠dis-dot-dat.net March 31, 2007

March 31, 2007

Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article (http://www.dis-dot-dat.net/?item=metaphor) on metaphor-oriented programming and how it might help HE-level teaching of programming. James

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Europython -- education theme
by Laura Creighton March 31, 2007

March 31, 2007

Europython's CFP is out. See: http://wiki.python.org/moin/EuroPython/2007/CallForProposals Rather than having tracks, we are having _themes_ this year, in the hopes that people who have interesting things to present (so demos are ok, as well as talks) will not conclude that they are not wanted because they don't fit the description of a talk. Despite all of that I have been asked to write a description of the Education theme. Post here or mail me words, expressions and the like that you think should be mentioned so I won't forget something important. Thank you. Laura

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More pipeline developments
by kirby urner March 30, 2007

March 30, 2007

My daughter's school, one of Portland Public's is looking at maybe doing Scratch -> Squeak -> Alice pre Python (they don't always get to Python except with exceptional students as this school maxes out after 8th grade). I just learned this in a meeting this afternoon (I'm not the one making these decision). I'm downloading Scratch right now to begin my evaluation. The more I understand about the Immersion Phase, the better will be my Pythonic bridges to high school algebra and geometry. If other subscribers to edu-sig have success stories using Scratch, I'd be interested in learning about 'em. Here's the web site for those new to this language (note Linux version in the works): http://scratch.mit.edu/ Note: according to the emerging sequence, languages like Scheme (LISP), J (R, APL), xBase (SQL), and system languages like the C family (Java, C#), M, would all tend to build on pre college Python skills acquired in mainstream math class (or from an elective track, if the state is antediluvian). Those Python skills would in turn build on an understanding of data and control structures acquired in more cartoony environments, with more emphasis on programming by dragging and dropping than on typing a lot of code. Kirby

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Re: [Edu-sig] [edupython] Python in Education Advocacy Article
by Laura Creighton March 27, 2007

March 27, 2007

A first programming language should be interpreted not compiled. It should also not have type declarations. Laura

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Re: [Edu-sig] [edupython] Python in Education Advocacy Article
by Laura Creighton March 27, 2007

March 27, 2007

In a message of Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:47:31 CDT, "Michael Tobis" writes: >I see that: > >"Ivan is a strong advocate of open source software and software libre. >He thinks Python may well be the greatest thing since sliced bread." >(http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ivan/) > >I agree about the sliced bread thing. I'd love to know why that is, >though, if you can spare a few minutes to try to articulate it. > >mt I find it really interesting the way language evolves. Sliced bread (as opposed to the sort of bread you have to slice yourself, i.e. bought already sliced at the store) is nearly always wretched stuff. It was, however, heavily marketed in the USA post WW2. Thus 'the greatest thing since sliced bread' began -- at least where my father was living in Toronto just post WW2 --entirely ironically, and was used to desribe things that were both terrible and hyped. These days, however, most people who say 'the greatest thing since sliced bread' are desribing something that they truly do find great. I wonder why/when the ironic context left. Perhaps it is a generational thing. I know that my father continues to use 'the greatest thing since sliced bread' as a favoured way to express scorn, and my language habits come from him. Did it not have this context in other parts of the world? Or was this widespread, and is now dying? I guess we need a dicitonary-of-idioms and-expressions to go with the Slang dictionary ... Laura

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Python in Education Advocacy Article
by Michael Tobis March 27, 2007

March 27, 2007

Dear Python-in-Education types For Python to gain the ground it ought to in educational settings will not happen automatically. To do my part, I have decided that my first article in the Python Papers should be about comparing Python to other common first languages for learning and teaching. I'd appreciate your help. Does language even matter pedagogically? If so what are Python's advantages and disadvantages? Should there be a universal first language of computing? Should it look more or less or exactly like Python? To further discussion on this question I have set up a blog. (I hate that blogs are in reverse chronological order; I posted the articles in the opposite order than the reading order so you can read from top to bottom!) In an effort to focus the conversation, I've asked a few language comparison questions that are relevant to Python's suitability as an educational language, each in its own blog entry. Please have a look, and make a stab at short answers to the questions. (If you have a long answer, please just link to it.) My idea is not to restrict people's ideas but to make an effort to provide some structure for the conversation. It will be very interesting to see if this helps move the conversation forward. The best outcome would be if we discover "low-hanging fruit" to advance the cause. Please lend a hand. see http://pencilscience.blogspot.com/ with pythonical regards, Michael Tobis

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Researching Article: Survey of Python for Kids
by Michael Tobis March 23, 2007

March 23, 2007

I will be writing an article in the next Python Papers ( http://pythonpapers.cgpublisher.com/ ) ; a survey of Python in pre-college education, and an introduction to the issues raised by the still highly unresolved interface between software and education. The article will be broad rather than deep, but hopefully will provide enough extra push to preserve the momentum of discussion in the Python community about deeper issues that got such an enormous boost at the last PyCon. I'm a fairly quick writer so I will put off the writing until the last week. I have about two weeks to collect information. In addition to the stuff mentioned on http://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig/ I intend to also touch on Crunchy Frog Alice Patapata Jython and web-based environments the PyCon 2007 keynotes by Goldberg, Lefkowitz and Krstic Please contact me directly or reply to this message if you know of any other projects or ideas that are deserving of mention in this article. I'd like to complete my research for this survey article by April 2. I am also interested in hearing from you if - you have taught classes in Python as a first programming language, especially for pre-college age audiences - you have released software that is targeted at beginning programmers which either exposes Python or uses Python under the hood - you are developing such software - you have or can point me to any historical background, especially about CP4E This may also serve as an occasion to update the edu-sig page! Michael Tobis

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[ANN] Python courses this Spring
by wesley chun March 22, 2007

March 22, 2007

I'll be giving a variety of Python courses this Spring. Daytime courses are for visitors and locals who need Python training in the shortest amount of time possible via consecutive workdays. Python is certainly gaining momentum as our February course filled up completely! Although I had planned on scheduling the same set to be taught in November, it is likely that these May daytime sessions are the last ones of 2007. In contrast, I'm experimenting with a *weekly evening* course in Silicon Valley designed mainly for locals. It represents a viable alternative to those who cannot take time off during the week as well as being more budget-friendly, as I am partnering with a local community college (Foothill) to offer this course. Class takes place on the main campus and you must register through the college to attend. For more information, such as cost and other course details, see the corresponding websites below. Contact me privately if you have any more questions. cheers, -wesley - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Core Python Programming", Prentice Hall, (c)2007,2001 http://corepython.com wesley.j.chun :: wescpy-at-gmail.com python training and technical consulting cyberweb.consulting : silicon valley, ca http://cyberwebconsulting.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DAYTIME ======= - (Intensive) Introduction to Python (Mon-Wed, May 14-16) - Advanced Python Programming (Wed-Fri, May 16-18) - Advanced Python (short course; Thu-Fri, May 17-18) - Core Python (Intro+Advanced combo; Mon-Fri, May 14-18) These courses run daily 9a-5p and will take place in San Bruno right near the San Francisco International Airport at the: Staybridge Suites - San Francisco Airport 1350 Huntington Ave San Bruno, CA 94066 USA http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sb/1/en/hd/sfobr Discounts are available for students and teachers, as well as multiple registrations from those working at the same company. For more info and registration, go to http://cyberwebconsulting.com (click on "Python Training") LOCALS: free parking and 101/280/380 access, BART across the street and CalTrain down the road (San Bruno stations) VISITORS: free hotel shuttle to/from the San Francisco airport, lots of free food and wireless, 2-bedroom suites w/private baths and a common work/living area available for traveling coworkers, and of course, The City by the Bay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EVENING ======= - Intermediate Python Programming (Tues, Apr 10-Jun 26) This course will cover the same topics as the advanced course above as well as critical portions of the intensive introductory course. It will be held once a week on Tuesday evenings from 6-9:40p. Foothill College 12345 El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 USA (right off 280, just south of Stanford) http://www.foothill.edu/schedule/schedule.php search for CIS 68L for Spring Quarter 2007

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