[Edu-sig] Introductory high school programming class - Python orTeachScheme

[Liow, Dr. Yihsiang]

To make programming fun, you have to go beyond the language and do
interesting things with it. That means using libraries or
tools/frameworks. Two semesters of Python will get you much further and
you'll retain more students too. "How to Think Like a Computer
Scientist" will not get your students into interesting applications yet.
So I strongly suggest you cover "How to Think ..." in 1 semester and
spend the next doing some fun projects such as web applications using
Zope or game using PyGame, etc. You can also put some of the more
advance stuff in "How to Think ..." in the second semester and start a
project during the first semester.

 

Scheme is a great language but it is more "academic" than Python and
does not seem to have as strong a pull as Python in the industry. So
Python will definitely catch more attention. For instance compare the
two:

 

CS101. Do you want to learn a programming language, Scheme, taught at
MIT? ...

 

CS101. Do you want to learn a programming language, Python, used by
Google and Yahoo! and Industrial Light & Magic and NASA? ...

 

There are success stories in Scheme. If you want to use Scheme, you
might want to check out http://www.schemers.org/Documents/FAQ/, but I
think most of your potential students will not identify with the
software listed there. For Python's success stories, go to
http://pythonology.org/success.

 

Hope this helps.

 

- yihsiang 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: edu-sig-bounces at python.org [mailto:edu-sig-bounces at python.org] On
Behalf Of Joseph Ehlers
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 8:48 PM
To: edu-sig at python.org
Subject: [Edu-sig] Introductory high school programming class - Python
orTeachScheme

 

I'm trying to propose an introductory computer programming class for
high school students.  I do not have a programming background so I will
be learning the language just like the students.  Through my research I
came across Python.  It sounds great - easy to learn, teaches thinking
skills, and is fun.  I was set to go with Python then I came across the
TeachScheme project which also sounds great - it too is easy to learn,
teaches thinking skills and comes with lots of curriculum.  I have a few
questions and I'm hoping this group can shed some light on this issue.

 

1.  Is one better than the other (Python  vs. TeachScheme) to teach high
school novices programming skills, thinking skills, language, and
keeping their attention so I can then have an audience for a second,
more advanced programming class?  

 

2.  I've looked at "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist", it looks
very doable for a novice and "Python Programming for the Absolute
Beginner" (Premier Press) looks like a lot of fun.  Is  there any other
curriculum for high school students out there?

 

3.  Is it possible to teach a semester of TeachScheme and a semester of
Python or is that overkill on the basics and not doing justice to either
program?

 

I appreciate your assistance.

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