[Edu-sig] Python promises a revolution
Phillip Kent
p.kent@mail.com
Thu, 20 Feb 2003 11:29:11 +0000
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At 21:51 19/02/2003 -0400, Javier Escobar wrote:<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=3Dcite class=3Dcite cite>ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTIONS<br>
- Problem definition (What are alternative conceptions in science, how
do<br>
they affect physiscs teaching)<br>
- Alternative conceptions and Constructivism (Alternative conceptions
viewed<br>
from a pedagogical theory point of view)<br>
- Proposed solutions (solutions proposed to deal with the
alternative<br>
conceptions problem)<br><br>
OUR PROPOSITION<br>
- Computer programming and physics teaching (How can computer
programing<br>
help dealing with alternative conception in physics teaching)<br>
- Python as a programming language (What is Phython)<br>
- =BFWhy Phython? (Features that make phython an ideal language for
physics<br>
teaching)<br>
- Design of a programming course for undergraduate physics=20
students.<br>
<br>
</blockquote><br>
Hi Javier, <br><br>
On the more 'educational research' side, I strongly recommend to have a
look at the work of:<br><br>
Bruce Sherin on programming as an 'alternative algebra' for physics
[<a href=3D"http://www.ls.sesp.nwu.edu/people/faculty/bsherin.html"=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.ls.sesp.nwu.edu/people/faculty/bsherin.html</=
a>]<br><br>
and<br><br>
Andrea diSessa
[<a href=3D"http://dewey.soe.berkeley.edu/~boxer/"=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://dewey.soe.berkeley.edu/~boxer/</a>]<br><br>
who has been working in this area since the late 70s - the papers are a
bit hard to get hold of, but his recent book <i>Changing Minds</i> (MIT
Press, 2000) is accessible and a good introductory read. Also have a look
at Abelson & diSessa <i>Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for
Exploring Mathematics</i> (MIT Press 1981) which starts very simple but
ends up exploring non-Euclidean 4-D geometries.<br><br>
- Phillip<br><br>
<br>
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Dr Phillip Kent, London, UK<br>
mathematics education technology research<br>
p.kent@mail.com mobile: 07950 952034<br>
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