[Edu-sig] programming skills and IQ tests..

[kirby urner]

On Wed, May 5, 2010 at 2:08 PM, Jurgis Pralgauskis
<jurgis.pralgauskis at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I think one of best ways to teach programming is with examples (of
> course with a bit of theory explanation).
> I'd like to test my students' general ability to undersnand examples.
> Because I am confused, is it my fault or their laziness, or sth else,
> that some of them (nearly 30%) understnand nearly nothig what they were taught.
>

Reconcile yourself to a bell curve response (including to IQ tests)
and don't berate students in the lower 30%, as you yourself are
in the lower 30% on other axes of measure (so many types of IQ).
We all fall short, in one dimension or another.  Python and/or whatever
is not for everyone, CP4E notwithstanding.  The goal is to provide
ample opportunity, not insist that everyone "get it" (whatever that
means).  There's a difference between being friendly and insisting
on being a friend.

Kirby