[replying to the digest -- look for LB: in text] Message: 7 Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 19:59:05 -0400 To: edu-sig@python.org From: Mitchell L Model <MLModel@wesleyan.edu> Subject: [Edu-sig] Re: Edu-sig digest, Vol 1 #531 - 1 msg --============_-1184480944==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Just joined list and haven't taken the time to read the archives yet, so maybe this is a silly post, but I thought it worth putting out there that I will be teaching an Introduction to Programming for non-computer science majors at Wesleyan University this fall, having just taken a position there as a visiting professor. I've convinced the other Computer Science faculty involved to abandon their attempts to make this course work with C++ and Java and to use Python instead. LB: I applaud your efforts. I teach at Durham College, (http://www.durhamc.on.ca/) LB: and I went through the process of convincing my colleagues that Python was LB: an interesting and viable alternative to the "production" languages like LB: C++, Java and Visual Basic for the Intro to Programming course. There's LB: still a few potshots in the night but otherwise the furore has settled down :) I plan to use the textbook Learn to Program Using Python (http://www.aw.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,0201709384,00.html), LB: Please read this book carefully first. I used it last year and the LB: feedback I got is that it doesn't go into detail into some important LB: concepts. Also, there are few examples and no exercises, so you have LB: to supply a lot of the material yourself. Don't get me wrong, I personally LB: found it interesting, but (as the subtitle suggests) it's meant for LB: self-starters and hobbyists who learn by tinkering. I found it unsuitable LB: for a first course with a fixed timeline and the dreaded final exam at LB: the end of the term. with the Python Essential Reference (http://newriders.com/books/product.asp?product_id={2DF0A321-D759-44A9-8 DC2-1900CC090956) as an optional resource. I'll also point students to the online book How to Think Like a Computer Scientist : Learning with Python (http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/thinkCS.php). LB: I'm going to try ThinkCSpy this year, and I endorse Beazley's Reference LB: as an essential resource (my copy is under my pillow at night). LB: LB: Good luck with the course! LB: