Re: [Edu-sig] Joining my first SIG
Hi Zac (et al), I teach 10th graders a course called Principles of Computer Technology that includes about 4 weeks of programming at the end, using Python. We always start with about 4 days using RUR-PLE, which I think is the cat's pajamas, and then go on to using IDLE to do some simple stuff. This year for the first time I did a 'getting to know you' project using Scratch, and I'll be interested to see if that exposure helps them grasp the basics of Python a little quicker. Also, last summer I took a seminar on Media Computing with Mark Guzdial (amazing guy, if he went into politics I'd vote for him in a heartbeat) and am considering introducing some of that material. For me, the tradeoff is that the media computing projects are really cool, but the Jython environment is not as friendly and I'm afraid it may be discouraging given the short time we have to work with. Anybody have an opinion on this? Thanks, Andy
Hi Zak -- Glad you've joined us. I used to be a full time high school math teacher in the 1980s (Jersey City), then worked at McGraw-Hill. We all though Logo and BASIC might be getting a mind-slice in pre-college math, but Texas Instruments won with math wars. These days, I sometimes get to field test through Saturday Academy. Martian Math was the latest such prototype (ongoing in other formats). http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?threadID=2102469&tstart=0 Portland Public has also used my services (GIS / GPS a focus -- big on geography around here). I tend to think Python + Polyhedra could be a real sweet spot in the curriculum because Polyhedra are "objects" in literal sense yet also in a mathematical sense. Learning about "math objects" starting with Polyhedra, other geometric concepts, seems an ideal application of an OO language. I tend to use VPython quite a bit. I was sorry to miss Ruth Chabay's demo of Vpython at the recent American Association of Physics Teachers conference at the downtown Hilton. http://www.physics.ncsu.edu/people/faculty_chabay.html Kirby
participants (2)
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Andy Judkis -
kirby urner