[Edu-sig] Need resource for beginners

[Jurgis Pralgauskis]

In my experience, Scratch is ok even if one has 3 hours...
You can make small games based on their premade intro activities
http://scratch.mit.edu/hoc2014/
http://scratch.mit.edu/starter_projects/

On Wed, Dec 24, 2014 at 5:25 PM, kirby urner <kirby.urner at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> He only had a day-long time frame though.
>
> I think Scratch makes more sense when you're in a longer haul setting, of
> months or years, and starting early.
>
> Kirby
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 24, 2014 at 5:45 AM, Jurgis Pralgauskis <
> jurgis.pralgauskis at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I'd also propose Scratch first -- you'd save quite some time, when
>> beginners make syntax and naming errors - with Scratch you can concentrate
>> on logic instead on these errors.
>>
>> For girls Python I think https://groklearning.com/hoc-2014/ would be ok
>> (found on http://code.org/learn) -- has step-by-step explanations
>>
>> For easier coding (not Python, but has similarities)
>> http://www.playcodemonkey.com/ (also found on code.org/learn)
>>
>> And If you'd like Scratch type small intro tasks -- very good start for
>> any intro programming course -- http://studio.code.org/hoc/1
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 5:26 AM, Tamim Shahriar <tamim.shahriar at gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It will help me to design the
>>> outline and content I shall let you know how it goes.
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Tamim.
>>>
>>> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 1:36 AM, kirby urner <kirby.urner at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Tamim --
>>>>
>>>> Speaking teacher-to-teacher, I think in terms of an XY graph with
>>>> X-axis the techie nuts and bolts and Y-axis the lore / history /
>>>> storytelling.
>>>>
>>>> Then I draw a curve representing any given students "bandwidth horizon"
>>>> and suggest varying the angle along the curve i.e. keep changing the mix of
>>>> lore and tech.
>>>>
>>>> Too many teachers neglect lore I think:  where did Python come from,
>>>> who is Guido, what is open source, how many languages are there, what are
>>>> they used for?
>>>>
>>>> Yes, we can go overboard and have only "fluff" but it's wrong to think
>>>> of lore as "fluff" when in a good / healthy trail mix with techie (e.g. the
>>>> syntax itself, magic methods...).
>>>>
>>>> What I find is a real time saver and helpful is to *not* start with a
>>>> blank canvas i.e. an empty screen and say "now code something".  Rather,
>>>> start in the middle with something fairly complex yet understandable
>>>> (conceptually) and invite them to make changes (plus they get to keep the
>>>> code).
>>>>
>>>> I took this approach with middle-to-high schoolers (teenagers) with
>>>> limited experience at a summer school.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.4dsolutions.net/satacad/martianmath/toc.html
>>>>
>>>> Each student had a high end Mac.  I had Visual Python installed with my
>>>> stickworks.py and other goodies (all free and out there) so they had
>>>> something visually interesting, a live animation, right from square one.
>>>>
>>>> But then they could change some things.  I call this "providing
>>>> scaffolding".
>>>>
>>>> It's not like you're saying this is a shortcut to learning the language
>>>> and people who slog along are wasting their time.  It's not that.  We're
>>>> just front loading with concepts and human interest material and recruiting
>>>> a few into diving in more seriously as a result of having so much fun.
>>>> We're not hiding the fact that it'll take a lot longer to get good at
>>>> Python.
>>>>
>>>> Additional resources:
>>>> http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/cp4e.html
>>>>
>>>> Kirby
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 5:27 AM, Tamim Shahriar <
>>>> tamim.shahriar at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I am going to conduct a workshop next month. I shall use Python in the
>>>>> day-long workshop. The workshop will be for girls only (grade 9-10) who
>>>>> know how to use computers but not familiar with programming.
>>>>>
>>>>> If anyone has experience conducting similar workshop and has resource,
>>>>> please share.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, what do you think I should show them in the workshop? Every girl
>>>>> will have access to a computer during workshop? Should I go with solving
>>>>> problems from their math / physics book? Or should I try to show them
>>>>> simple games to make it more fun? I am waiting for your ideas.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> Tamim.
>>>>> Python Blog : http://love-python.blogspot.com
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> Edu-sig at python.org
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Jurgis Pralgauskis
>> tel: 8-616 77613;
>> Don't worry, be happy and make things better ;)
>> http://galvosukykla.lt
>>
>
>


-- 
Jurgis Pralgauskis
tel: 8-616 77613;
Don't worry, be happy and make things better ;)
http://galvosukykla.lt
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