Darren writes -
Sorry all - this post will probly stir up a commotion.
I've been stirring up a commotion here for some time by suggesting the possibility that Python is too rich and complex a tool to be realistically taught and appreciated by students of the age you are trying to teach who are not predisposed to some "geekiness". So maybe if I am correct, you have been trying to bang your head against the wall, a bit. But to what extent are you fulfilling your mission to teach programming by using Gamemaker? Its a question, not a provocation, since I don't know the program. Do you ever get to something that can be considered, fairly, to be programming? PyGeo is (better, will be) of course the perfect alternative ;) The GUI is all pre-built (thanks to VPython). Its API is a narrow (and realistically absorbable) subset of the full range of possibilities. And to the extent it fails as a tool in teaching something about programming, it might succeed in teaching something about geometry, and vice versa. A better hedge in an educational environment, IMO. And there is no reason it shouldn't be fun. Nice and colorful 3d. I do believe fun should be part of the equation. Just thought I'd venture out of the closet on the possibilities of PyGeo, as I begin to focus some of my resources on it again. I was successful in finding someone quite qualified to help me (as a paid consultant) in the technical aspects of preparing decent distributions. We'll see. Art
I have been keen on Python for quite a while. I have tried using it ti teach programming in a high school situation and would have liked to extend into PyGame. Sadly, though I feel I DO understand object oriented concepts, I DO NOT have any idea of determining what objects to create. Similarly, as there is SO MUCH to learn before one becomes capable of completing even simple tasks like a blackjack cardgame (with gui too) ... I am finding students get turned off before they even get a chance to see what can be done. I know ... it must be just me and the way I teach it. However, I have recently revisited Gamemaker. I saw it a few years ago and could not make much sense of it. But now it is up to version 6, there are loads of fantastic tutorials to follow along with. I have introduced it to classes from Yr7 - 10 and they love it whereas only 2 - 3 of the really "nerdy", "geeky" kids appreciated Python! My feeling is that Python will never be widely used (in schools) unless we can get a PyGamemaker package. Even girls have a ball with gamemaker!
regards Darren
===== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- regards Darren Payne Hurlstone Agricultural High School Ph: 9829 9222 Fax: 98292026
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