[Edu-sig] re: Girls, women and Programming (- and Python)

[Douglas S. Blank]

Arthur wrote:

[snip]

> To me programming is like math, in that it has (or should have) zero
> gender related content.  Not sure if I were a woman I would want to
> feel catered to, in any sense. Just the facts, thank you.
> 
> Art

My goal is not to have "gender unrelated" content in the courses I 
teach. That sounds a bit sterile, and possibly unrelated to what 
students are interested in.

Rather, I would hope to have course content that is related to topics 
that cover a wide spectrum of interests. Whatever their background, 
race, gender, biases, etc., I would like to find stimulating assignments 
and methodologies that pique their interests.

I find Python a good language to do this because it has very interesting 
connections to so many different levels. For example, one could explore 
the underlying C interface and issues closer to the machine, or one can 
explore 3D graphics via OpenGL. All in one consistent, simple, OO world.

An interesting and productive thread for this conversation is: what 
kinds of assignments could one do with Python that you find interesting 
and stimulating?

-Doug

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-- 
Douglas S. Blank,         Assistant Professor
dblank@brynmawr.edu,            (610)526-6501
Bryn Mawr College,   Computer Science Program
101 North Merion Ave,       Park Science Bld.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010  dangermouse.brynmawr.edu