[Edu-sig] creating an interface vs. using one

[Michel Paul]

Oh yeah - another idea that's been forming - I think an argument can be made for computational modeling to become part of the math/science curriculum.  I keep reading articles about how science, particularly biology, is pushing math in new directions, and it seems to me that it's only a matter of time before the concept of creating computational models becomes part of what students learn to do in high school.  I've put this idea out to the math and science depts.  So far there simply has been no response.  But I'm NOT going to shut up.  : )

- Michel


-----Original Message-----
From: edu-sig-bounces at python.org on behalf of Michel Paul
Sent: Sun 09/24/06 09:47 AM
To: Radenski, Atanas; edu-sig at python.org
Subject: Re: [Edu-sig] creating an interface vs. using one
 
Yes, thank you.  I have been reflecting on this, and so far I haven't been able to pin down a site specific issue that Python would clearly address.  

I should point out that I haven't been stifled in pursuing Python - I have been tolerated.  I did have a small group of kids at the beginning of this semester with whom I planned to explore this stuff, but to balance out enrollment numbers they had to close either that class or the AP.  Unfortunate, but I do know the kids liked Python.

I do keep seeing ways in which Python would be more elegant and more powerful than a clunky interface, and I do see how exploring Python would address a lot of the very issues people have raised in pretentious brain-storming sessions about how we will use our new math/sci/tech building.

The biggest issue that I keep finding myself drawn to is not site specific.  I keep seeing the need for students to develop more number sense.  The emphasis on statistics and the typical use of calculators, I believe, has created a general tendency among both students and teachers to regard numbers as "data".  The statistical theme is important, but I think it's time to balance it out with a computational number-theoretic theme.  I'm saying that numbers are not just data, they are data STRUCTURES.  I think there should be more number theory in the math curriculum, and we could provide that beautifully with something like Python.  

But I will remain alert to site-specific issues that the use of Python could address.

- Michel

-----Original Message-----
From: Radenski, Atanas [mailto:radenski at chapman.edu]
Sent: Sat 09/23/06 08:10 AM
To: Michel Paul; edu-sig at python.org
Subject: RE: [Edu-sig] creating an interface vs. using one
 
From: edu-sig-bounces at python.org on behalf of Michel Paul
> Also - our school is building a new math/science/technology center.  I see Python as an excellent kind of thing to get
> people to explore.  I attended the SciPy conference at CalTech in August, just to see what kind of things were going on,
> and it was amazing.  But no one at school seems to care.  It's weird.  I feel like I've found this treasure, and I keep saying to
> people, "Hey!  I've found this treasure!"  But no one cares.  It's so weird.
 
Michel,
 
I do not think it is weird that your school does not care about Python. It is natural. People normally do *not* care about answers to questions that they never asked. Simply offering something that you believe is cool (Python in this case) is not going to work with adults/administrators.
 
I would suggest that you think of a concrete problem that your department chair is facing. She certainly has some problems to solve as a chair and she certainly would be open to possible solution. Is retention a problem? Is diminishing student interest a problem? You have to identify her problems and then try to convince her how and why Python can be the solution to those problems.
 
Just believing that Python is cool, beautiful, and useful may not do it. But addressing some real concrete needs of your school can do it. They may get quite interested.
 
Show them how Python is a solution to their problem(s).
 
Atanas








_______________________________________________
Edu-sig mailing list
Edu-sig at python.org
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig