Hello!
I was a math teacher for years and finally came to the conclusion that math
education in the 21st Century should embrace computers and programming. I
learned LOGO because of Seymour Papert but a student of mine turned me on
to Python. The tools I use for exploring math are Python's Turtle module,
Pygame and my favorite, Visual Python. As has been pointed out, there's a
need to train teachers in the tools and to provide curriculum or resources.
I gave a talk on this topic at the Bay Area Python Interest Group
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvQ6O7Di0g> in 2013, showing a few
hands-on explorations in using Python to explore math topics. This year I
published Hacking Math Class with Python <http://www.farrellpolymath.com/>,
which contains dozens of programs, some very short, for applying Al
Sweigart's motto "Automate the Boring Stuff" to learning math topics like
algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus.
It starts with an introduction to Python using turtle geometry and provides
programs for everything from finding means and medians to solving the
Pythagorean Theorem and quadratic formula to solving higher order
polynomials using synthetic division. There are spirographs using
trigonometry and fractals using recursion and/or complex numbers.
I introduced it to the Coder School in my town (on the SF Peninsula) and
they use it to take beginning programmers through their first steps in
Python.
I think it's time to get Python into every math class, and I'd love to
start a discussion on how to accomplish this.
I would love to get the word out there to educators about my contributions
so far, and if anybody would like to review the book I'll send you a free
pdf. The version on the website is Python 2 but when I sent a freebie to
Kirby I thoughtfully translated everything to Python 3 so let me know if
you'd prefer that version.
Looking forward to the discussion!
Peter Farrell
San Mateo, CA
farrellpolymath.com
