From the edu-sig list
I wrote:
On the other hand, let me remind everyone that many people despair of this list because it spends too much time on impractical generalities.
So I would add that we shouldn't mistake interesting conversations for progress. Many of the topics raised here are hard and deep but, at least for present purposes, still not very useful.
I believe should keep the conversation germane to the intersection of Python and education, specifically, to the development of Python tools that are relevant to education.
to which Kirby Urner replied:
to do some homework before sounding off and acting foolish, the way Tobis does.
There was general agreement among the attendees at the education BOF meeting at PyCon that a new list was necessary, so although my own presence is recent, my assertion was not unsupported. There has also been some discussion of dissatisfaction with the breadth of discussion here expressed since I have been following the list, notably including some strongly worded advice from Guido van Rossum recently. It happens that in response to this general agreement at PyCon, I set up such a list on Google Groups, with myself and Vern Ceder as owners and potential moderators, and there has been some traffic moving there. http://groups.google.com/group/edupython?lnk=oa Here is the announcement of that list again, as submitted by Anna Ravenscroft: === In order to facilitate small groups working on specific Python-in-Education projects, we have launched an edupython list on google groups (http://groups.google.com/group/edupython or edupython@googlegroups.com). We envision participation by people trying to coordinate work on the nuts and bolts implementation of a project, with frequent progress reports and requests for suggestions and comments coming back to edu-sig. The list developed as a result of a quite well-attended and enthusiastic BOF meeting at PyCon. This edupython list is not intended to replace edu-sig, which remains very strong for theoretical and philosophical discussions, and for getting input and suggestions from a wider group, but is also necessarily higher bandwidth. We invite anyone working on Python-related education projects to join the list. === For myself, I would prefer either that there only be one edu-sig list, and that it stay much more terse, but failing that, that the alternative edupython@googlegroups be linked from the edu-sig page on python.org so that newcomers or occasional contributors to the topic can make their own choice to read from or write to one or both. mt
There was general agreement among the attendees at the education BOF meeting at PyCon that a new list was necessary, so although my own presence is recent, my assertion was not unsupported. There has also been some discussion of dissatisfaction with the breadth of discussion here expressed since I have been following the list, notably including some strongly worded advice from Guido van Rossum recently.
Guido was upset that we were straying into education philosophy, understandable given the just-ended Shuttleworth Summit, where such philosophical questions came up repeatedly. I am in full agreement that education philosophy *should* be on the table, but *not* here on edu-sig, where we'll just bog down in endless citations of an alien literature (i.e. by writers who know nothing of Python or our work together). As to a BOF wanting to start a new list, I don't see a problem, although it seems unnecessary to cast it as a fork or breakaway from edu-sig. Just propose a new group with a mission statement or focus, other than what's already covered here, why not?
It happens that in response to this general agreement at PyCon, I set up such a list on Google Groups, with myself and Vern Ceder as owners and potential moderators, and there has been some traffic moving there.
Sounds good to me. Good luck with that. I'm staying with edu-sig myself and haven't time for two Python in education groups. Kirby
Mr. Tobis- I applaud your goal to start a list to promote Python projects for education. But I wonder, wouldn't any such projects have their own dedicated mailing lists? I fear slightly that two lists would dilute the attendance, and risk falling below a critical mass of people. As Kirby says, though, by all means give it a go, and we'll see what happens. Perhaps a different venue will start something new and vibrant. -Winston On Apr 27, 2006, at 12:54 PM, kirby urner wrote:
There was general agreement among the attendees at the education BOF meeting at PyCon that a new list was necessary, so although my own presence is recent, my assertion was not unsupported. There has also been some discussion of dissatisfaction with the breadth of discussion here expressed since I have been following the list, notably including some strongly worded advice from Guido van Rossum recently.
Guido was upset that we were straying into education philosophy, understandable given the just-ended Shuttleworth Summit, where such philosophical questions came up repeatedly. I am in full agreement that education philosophy *should* be on the table, but *not* here on edu-sig, where we'll just bog down in endless citations of an alien literature (i.e. by writers who know nothing of Python or our work together).
As to a BOF wanting to start a new list, I don't see a problem, although it seems unnecessary to cast it as a fork or breakaway from edu-sig. Just propose a new group with a mission statement or focus, other than what's already covered here, why not?
It happens that in response to this general agreement at PyCon, I set up such a list on Google Groups, with myself and Vern Ceder as owners and potential moderators, and there has been some traffic moving there.
Sounds good to me. Good luck with that. I'm staying with edu-sig myself and haven't time for two Python in education groups.
Kirby _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
______________________________________________________ winston wolff - (646) 827-2242 - http://www.stratolab.com learning by creating - video game courses for kids in new york
participants (3)
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kirby urner -
Michael Tobis -
Winston Wolff