[Edu-sig] Teaching Python at a Junior College Level

[Steve Litt]

At 02:17 PM 9/29/00 -0700, you wrote:
>I am a CS teacher who teaches a general service course (both majors and
>non-majors) and in it we have a programming component. Currently, we are
>teaching BASIC to the students but I _really_ don't like the bad habits that
>this language promotes and I like the ease of explaining programming
>concepts in Python to both CS majors and NON-CS majors.
>
>However, my problem is not the language but in trying to get a broader
>acceptance of Python as a language equivalent to BASIC in people's minds. We
>know that Python is better ('natch :-) but people responsible for
>transferring the credit to another school often will ask for BASIC
>specifically. Any ideas how to fix this problem?

Could you get slick and teach "Basic using Python Design" -- spend 3/4 of
the semester doing python, then say OK, here's how you do it in Basic (a
window per object HOHO).

I'm not an academic guy, but just in case that idea will fly, I'm giving it
to you.

Steve



>
>This problem is much more important than you might realize. If schools won't
>accept classes that have Python in them, then it doesn't matter how much
>better Python is than BASIC, the classes cannot be taught. Either that or
>you end up with boutique classes with nobody in them.
>
>Dean
>
>P.S. I'm in California if that matters.
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Edu-sig mailing list
>Edu-sig@python.org
>http://www.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
>