Intro and question: assignments/projects for year end
If they only have about two weeks to "learn" Python, and write a small program or two, what types of things could I have them do? We won't have time to get into GUIs. These can't be very ambitious projects, due to the limited amount of time.
A suggestion\idea made without great conviction, and probably too general to be of great use: Don't ask them to face a blank page. If its Game of Life, start them with functioning code and challenge them to extend it in some fairly specific way. If its graphics, start with functioning code that draws lines, ask them to draw boxes and circles. Even at high levels of programming, few people are asked to face the blank page. One is extending, optimizing, debugging, porting, etc. Give them something broken to fix. Plant a few bugs. But don't ask them to face the blank page. ART
There are a number of examples, beginner to intermediate in level, to be found at Useless Python, which is presented mainly by the Python Tutor email list. You might find some interesting ideas there. The URL is: http://www.lowerstandard.com/python/pythonsource.html Rob HotToPot@aol.com wrote:
If they only have about two weeks to "learn" Python, and write a small program or two, what types of things could I have them do? We won't have time to get into GUIs. These can't be very ambitious projects, due to the limited amount of time.
A suggestion\idea made without great conviction, and probably too general to be of great use:
Don't ask them to face a blank page.
If its Game of Life, start them with functioning code and challenge them to extend it in some fairly specific way.
If its graphics, start with functioning code that draws lines, ask them to draw boxes and circles.
Even at high levels of programming, few people are asked to face the blank page. One is extending, optimizing, debugging, porting, etc.
Give them something broken to fix. Plant a few bugs.
But don't ask them to face the blank page.
ART
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-- Useless Python! If your Python is this useless, we need you. http://www.lowerstandard.com/python/pythonsource.html
First of all, I want to thank everyone for all the suggestion, both on this list and in e-mail. I'm going to try to get something specific together for my students by Friday. As for these comments below: On Wed, 9 May 2001 23:53:42 EDT, HotToPot@aol.com wrote about [Edu-sig] Intro and question: assignments/projects for year end : :Don't ask them to face a blank page. : :If its Game of Life, start them with functioning code and challenge :them to extend it in some fairly specific way. : :If its graphics, start with functioning code that draws lines, ask them to :draw :boxes and circles. : :Even at high levels of programming, few people are asked to face the :blank page. One is extending, optimizing, debugging, porting, etc. : :Give them something broken to fix. Plant a few bugs. : :But don't ask them to face the blank page. I wasn't going to make the class all do the same project. I was going to let them pick what they want to do. Last year I did this with the CMU Graphics library, and it was a great success. However, in this scenario, it was mostly necessary for them to "face a blank page". Well, let me qualify that: We did have two "demo" programs for them to examine. I'd like to thank Rob for suggesting the Useless Python site, as a reference. I think you're right. That's a good source for samples and examples. -- Sheila King http://www.thinkspot.net/sheila/ http://www.k12groups.org/
participants (3)
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HotToPot＠aol.com -
Rob Andrews -
Sheila King