Python Teaching Texts for non-computer types
Christine -- I, too, had great difficulty in finding a book with the kind of teaching material I want. Therefore, I ended up writing a book that I have now used for three semesters and am pleased with. I'm still in the process of trying to get it published by a major publishing company because the editors feel that there is not a market, and I would prefer not to self publish at this point. My text includes presentation of a concept, then examples (often in a FULL program, not just a program section), review exercises and a number of student programming assignments at the end of each chapter. Concepts build from chapter to chapter, so it really is a teaching text rather than a reference book. It is certainly not an all-inclusive Python tome, but the content is quite teachable in a semester. If I find a publisher who thinks the product is marketable, I will certainly let you know. Nora << Original message attached >> --------------------------------------- Original Email From: Christine Shannon <shannon@centre.edu> Sent: 12/06/2001 01:23 PM To: edu-sig@python.org Subject: [Edu-sig] Who is teaching Python At Centre College we have been teaching Python as the first programming language for the past three semesters with very good results. I will be leading a Birds-of-a-Feather session on it at the SIGCSE meeting this year in Northern KY. Our students run the gamut from computer science majors to math and science majors who are taking this for their major to fine arts majors who are exploring. They learn enough about object oriented programming so that those who go on to Data Structures are able to make a good transition to Java. The text book situation is a problem. I have use three different ones so far and have not really been satisfied with any of them. The level is either too elementary or they are written as though this is at least a second programming language for the reader. Most of the on-line documentation is very good but students usually want a book. Christine Shannon
Nora, contact Petra at Petra_Recter@prenhall.com. She might be interested. cheers, Luby
Christine --
I, too, had great difficulty in finding a book with the kind of teaching material I want. Therefore, I ended up writing a book that I have now used for three semesters and am pleased with. I'm still in the process of trying to get it published by a major publishing company because the editors feel that there is not a market, and I would prefer not to self publish at this point.
My text includes presentation of a concept, then examples (often in a FULL program, not just a program section), review exercises and a number of student programming assignments at the end of each chapter. Concepts build from chapter to chapter, so it really is a teaching text rather than a reference book. It is certainly not an all-inclusive Python tome, but the content is quite teachable in a semester.
If I find a publisher who thinks the product is marketable, I will certainly let you know.
Nora
<< Original message attached >>
--------------------------------------- Original Email From: Christine Shannon <shannon@centre.edu> Sent: 12/06/2001 01:23 PM To: edu-sig@python.org Subject: [Edu-sig] Who is teaching Python
At Centre College we have been teaching Python as the first programming language for the past three semesters with very good results. I will be leading a Birds-of-a-Feather session on it at the SIGCSE meeting this year in Northern KY.
Our students run the gamut from computer science majors to math and science majors who are taking this for their major to fine arts majors who are exploring. They learn enough about object oriented programming so that those who go on to Data Structures are able to make a good transition to Java.
The text book situation is a problem. I have use three different ones so far and have not really been satisfied with any of them. The level is either too elementary or they are written as though this is at least a second programming language for the reader. Most of the on-line documentation is very good but students usually want a book.
Christine Shannon
participants (2)
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Luby Liao -
Nora Wirtschafter