[Edu-sig] Teaching python at a Computer Clubhouse

[kirby urner]

On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 1:54 PM, Carl Cerecke <carl at free.org.nz> wrote:
> I'm thinking of becoming a mentor at a local Computer
> Clubhouse http://www.computerclubhouse.org/. In particular, there are some
> kids there who are quite keen to learn to make their own games, but none of
> the current mentors know any programming (one said that he had done some
> "programming" in HTML).

Hi Carl --

A lot of kids say "games" because that's what's in their vocabulary
and it most closely approximates the idea of a bright buzzing world
with fun interactivity.

I would recommend immediately coming back with "simulations" and
identifying Sims as one of those, "not just a game".

Then point out how all the Sims and their houses and furniture (and
cities) are Objects and Objects have Attributes and Behavior.

With all that as background, I find many kids will then amuse
themselves with core Python, imagining the "game" in their heads, but
in reality just doing primitive classes and functions.

They pass the CS-1 level pretty quickly, if the latter is imagined as
purely procedural only (not many of those left I hope).

In other words, I hope you succeed in giving them excuses to learn
core Python and get some clear concepts, as that will help when you
introduce PyGame in the next meeting.

Kirby

PS:  congrats to New Zealand for already having some of the more
visionary and forward thinking computer science curriculum
promulgators.  Isn't Nat Torkington still there --or did he move
again?   http://nathan.torkington.com/  I figure everybody knows
everybody in a place that small, like the Shire.