[Edu-sig] Python Teaching Texts for non-computer types

[Luby Liao]

Nora, contact Petra at Petra_Recter@prenhall.com.  She might be
interested.  cheers, Luby 

 > Christine --
 > 
 > I, too, had great difficulty in finding a book with the kind of teaching material I want.  Therefore, I ended up writing a book that I have now used for three semesters and am pleased with.  I'm still in the process of trying to get it published by a major publishing company because the editors feel that there is not a market, and I would prefer not to self publish at this point.
 > 
 > My text includes presentation of a concept, then examples (often in a FULL program, not just a program section), review exercises and a number of student programming assignments at the end of each chapter. Concepts build from chapter to chapter, so it really is a teaching text rather than a reference book.  It is certainly not an all-inclusive Python tome, but the content is quite teachable in a semester.
 > 
 > If I find a publisher who thinks the product is marketable, I will certainly let you know.
 > 
 > Nora 
 > 
 > 
 > << Original message attached >>
 > 
 > ---------------------------------------
 > Original Email
 > From: Christine Shannon <shannon@centre.edu>
 > Sent: 12/06/2001 01:23 PM
 > To: edu-sig@python.org
 > Subject: [Edu-sig] Who is teaching Python
 > 
 > 
 > 
 > At Centre College we have been teaching Python as the first programming
 > language for the past three semesters with very good results.  I will be
 > leading a Birds-of-a-Feather session on it at the SIGCSE meeting this
 > year in Northern KY.
 > 
 > Our students run the gamut from computer science majors to math and
 > science majors who are taking this for their major to fine arts majors
 > who are exploring.  They learn enough about object oriented programming
 > so that those who go on to Data Structures are able to make a good
 > transition to Java.
 > 
 > The text book situation is a problem.  I have use three different ones
 > so far and have not really been satisfied with any of them.  The level
 > is either too elementary or they are written as though this is at least
 > a second programming language for the reader.  Most of the on-line
 > documentation is very good but students usually want a book.
 > 
 > Christine Shannon