[Edu-sig] Edu-sig Digest, Vol 116, Issue 4
Jeff Elkner
jeff at elkner.net
Sun Mar 17 14:31:57 CET 2013
Lee, if you are looking for a classroom teacher to try out pyguin in
the classroom, sign me up! I'll have it installed in my lab on
Thursday, when I return, in any case. It rocks!
Now a question: how difficult would it be to get pyguin to output svg images?
Jeff Elkner
On Sun, Mar 17, 2013 at 1:07 AM, <edu-sig-request at python.org> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. [ANNC] pynguin-0.13 python turtle graphics application now
> uses python 3 (Lee Harr)
> 2. Python Epistemology (michel paul)
> 3. Re: Python Epistemology (Kirby Urner)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:42:59 +0430
> From: Lee Harr <missive at hotmail.com>
> To: "python-list at python.org" <python-list at python.org>,
> "edu-sig at python.org" <edu-sig at python.org>
> Subject: [Edu-sig] [ANNC] pynguin-0.13 python turtle graphics
> application now uses python 3
> Message-ID: <BLU168-W96F128EFCAA20324B9E710B1EF0 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1256"
>
>
> Pynguin is a python-based turtle graphics application.
> ??? It combines an editor, interactive interpreter, and
> ??? graphics display area.
>
> It is meant to be an easy environment for introducing
> ??? some programming concepts to beginning programmers.
>
>
> http://pynguin.googlecode.com/
>
>
> This release ports Pynguin to Python 3.
>
>
> Pynguin is tested with Python 3.2.3 and PyQt 4.9.3 and
> ??? will use Pygments syntax highlighting if available.
>
> Pynguin is released under GPLv3.
>
>
> Changes in pynguin-0.13:
> ??? Now uses (requires) Python 3
> ??????? - Tested with Python 3.2.3
>
> ??? Important fixes
> ??????? - New approach for threading of user code
> ??????????? - should provide safer, more reliable, termination of user code
> ??????????? - can now reliably stop code like ... while 1: pass
> ??????? - Preserves fill state and color when changing avatar
>
> ??? Other fixes
> ??????? - Preserves name label when changing avatar
> ??????? - Tries harder to go as fast as possible for "instant" setting
> ??????????? - throttles back on CPU when not running user code
>
> ??? Pynguin API
> ??????? - Logo-mode coordinates and angles now available
> ??????????? - Switch mode using Pynguin -> Mode -> Logo
> ??????????? - or create new instance with mlogo=ModeLogo()
> ??????? - Python turtle-mode coordinates and angles now available
> ??????????? - Switch mode using Pynguin -> Mode -> Turtle
> ??????????? - or create new instance with mturtle=ModeTurtle()
> ??????? - xy(x, y) re-uses goto(x, y) code
> ??????? - xyh() uses xy() and h() to retrieve values
> ??????? - color() takes an optional alpha channel value for transparency
> ??????????? - color('ralpha') chooses a random color with random alpha
> ??????? - Each pynguin's speed can now be set individually
>
> ??? Canvas
> ??????? - Added a dialog for pen, background, and fill default colors
> ??????????? - sets these colors on program startup
> ??????????? - uses these colors for reset()
> ??????????? - also used when adding new pynguins
> ??????? - Can now track any pynguin
> ??????? - Can zoom to fit entire drawing
>
> ??? UI
> ??????? - Added new Pynguin menu for avatar and mode selection
> ??????? - Added alpha value selector to pen and fill color dialogs
>
> ??? Integrated Editor
>
> ??? Integrated Console
>
> ??? Examples
> ??????? - All ported to Python 3
> ??????? - Added examples using colors with alpha channel values
> ??????? - Added finish line to horserace
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:14:33 -0700
> From: michel paul <pythonic.math at gmail.com>
> To: edu-sig at python.org
> Subject: [Edu-sig] Python Epistemology
> Message-ID:
> <CANuze1+1-34XASccBaiDis_Kpty=r7nhZVqwKa6UnFzpC1Xt6A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> This was the title of a 5-minute 'lightening talk' by Allen Downey, author
> of Think Python
> <http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html>, during
> the educational summit here at PyCon. Main points:
>
> *
>
> - Nat
> ural L
> ang
> uage
> : expressive and readable, but verbose and imprecise.
> - Math
> ematical notation
> : concise and precise, but not readable or executable.
> - M
> ost
> programming languages: precise and executable, but verbose and not
> readable.
>
>
> Hmmm ... can anyone think of an expressive, readable, concise, precise, and
> executable symbolic language? : )
>
> He went on to show a traditional mathematical formula representing Bayesian
> inference and compared it to the corresponding Python code. The Python code
> was similar to natural language and represented a flow of ideas. It was
> comprehensible. His point was that we often think we need to first express
> our ideas in traditional mathematical notation and then translate the math
> into executable code. But his point was no, we can code our ideas directly.
> It is a new kind of mathematical expression.
>
> I was so delighted to hear this, as these are the conclusions I have come
> to as well. It's absolutely true that coding reflectively helps clarify
> one's ideas, and this is why it belongs in education. I've repeatedly had
> the experience that coding something I had long taken for granted in math
> got me to see it in a new light. I've come to view traditional math syntax
> as a kind of clever shorthand we developed before we had computers. I think
> the traditional syntax creates a kind of cognitive illusion in students and
> teachers that that's 'really' the math.
> And then throwing calculators into the mix just solidifies the illusion.
> Everyone in K-12, students and teachers, thinks that the math is 'really'
> on a piece of paper, in traditional notation, and that the technology is
> something on the side we turn to in order to help us get the math onto the
> paper when the calculations get too tough. I think that picture is flawed
> and antiquated. The technology itself is the new paper. Computational
> languages are the new algebra.
> *
>
> PyCon was amazing. It was my first one. Very inspiring. Time definitely
> well spent.
>
> --
> Michel
>
> ===================================
> "What I cannot create, I do not understand."
>
> - Richard Feynman
> ===================================
> "Computer science is the new mathematics."
>
> - Dr. Christos Papadimitriou
> ===================================
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:07:23 -0700
> From: Kirby Urner <kurner at oreillyschool.com>
> To: michel paul <pythonic.math at gmail.com>
> Cc: edu-sig at python.org
> Subject: Re: [Edu-sig] Python Epistemology
> Message-ID:
> <CAGe4BMHvbYap6Lp9O97Mht6H+TpQwP-3y+Q5134c8JhiuQ=eaA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> On Sat, Mar 16, 2013 at 8:14 PM, michel paul <pythonic.math at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> This was the title of a 5-minute 'lightening talk' by Allen Downey, author
>> of Think Python <http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html>, during
>> the educational summit here at PyCon. Main points:
>>
>> *
>>
>> - Nat
>> ural L
>> ang
>> uage
>> : expressive and readable, but verbose and imprecise.
>> - Math
>> ematical notation
>> : concise and precise, but not readable or executable.
>> - M
>> ost
>> programming languages: precise and executable, but verbose and not
>> readable.
>>
>>
>> Hmmm ... can anyone think of an expressive, readable, concise, precise,
>> and executable symbolic language? : )
>>
>> *
>>
>
> Yes. I introduced myself to Allen later during coffee break, saying I
> recommend his book rather frequently to my students (an O'Reilly book after
> all, though also free on the web). I was thinking of 'Thinking Python'
> which inherits though 'How to Think...' and Jeff Elkner's edition.
>
> However, I should also be reading, then recommending his 'Thinking
> Complexity' as I think that whole field, of fractals, butterfly effects,
> cellular automata, is providing that wealth of material we need wherein
> pre-computer mathematics stays relevant for sure, but needs our new tools
> and notations in addition.
>
> I'm not saying that to be exclusive of other areas of mathematics. Those
> of us old enough remember the big splash fractals made, because of their
> merit as art objects, by which I mean nothing dismissive either. Suddenly,
> our computer graphics capabilities were being exercised to their max. Plus
> now there's the Mandelbulb.
>
> *
>> He went on to show a traditional mathematical formula representing
>> Bayesian inference and compared it to the corresponding Python code. The
>> Python code was similar to natural language and represented a flow of
>> ideas. It was comprehensible. His point was that we often think we need to
>> first express our ideas in traditional mathematical notation and then
>> translate the math into executable code. But his point was no, we can code
>> our ideas directly. It is a new kind of mathematical expression.
>> *
>>
>
> Even just a single Sigma becomes more comprehensible as a for loop, or even
> a generator where infinite sequences and series are concerned.
>
> http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/overcome.html
>
>
>
>> *
>>
>> I was so delighted to hear this, as these are the conclusions I have come
>> to as well. It's absolutely true that coding reflectively helps clarify
>> one's ideas, and this is why it belongs in education. I've repeatedly had
>> the experience that coding something I had long taken for granted in math
>> got me to see it in a new light. I've come to view traditional math syntax
>> as a kind of clever shorthand we developed before we had computers. I think
>> the traditional syntax creates a kind of cognitive illusion in students and
>> teachers that that's 'really' the math.
>> And then throwing calculators into the mix just solidifies the illusion.
>> Everyone in K-12, students and teachers, thinks that the math is 'really'
>> on a piece of paper, in traditional notation, and that the technology is
>> something on the side we turn to in order to help us get the math onto the
>> paper when the calculations get too tough. I think that picture is flawed
>> and antiquated. The technology itself is the new paper. Computational
>> languages are the new algebra.
>> *
>>
>>
> We're on the same page as the Mathematica people here, and I don't think we
> should worry about any winner-take-all, king-of-the-hill story here.
> IPython Notebook has a Mathematica flavor and that's fine, so does Sage.
> We're in a synergy relationship.
>
> That's especially true in the space of my workplace, where a lot of the
> brain cycles have been committed to Hilbert, software that brings in
> Mathematica over the server to a browser-based client. Others of us teach
> Python and other executable notations. Per your integrating vision, it's
> all one domain.
>
> http://www.makingmath.com/ (same group as O'Reilly School)
>
>
>
>> PyCon was amazing. It was my first one. Very inspiring. Time definitely
>> well spent.
>>
>> --
>> Michel
>>
>
> Glad we got to meet.
>
> I know my little talk was kinda quirky, and that sometimes worries newbies
> (my somewhat stream of consciousness style...), but they tend to be
> reassured that I'm a known quantity, my quirkiness just part of my style.
>
> I gave my talk again with different emphasis in the Great Hall on Saturday
> morning. My gave more focus to my "generator tractor" and the fact that it
> takes data in through yield, doesn't just give data out.
>
> This proved to be a good segue to Raymond Hettinger's keynote I thought.
> He was likewise extolling the virtues of the keyword 'yield' as among
> Python's salient and cutting-edge features.
>
> Kirby
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