[Edu-sig] Python comes to Henry Sibley H.S.

[Timothy Wilson]

On Mon, 26 Feb 2001, Todd Whittaker wrote:

> On Mon, 26 Feb 2001, Timothy Wilson wrote:
> 
> > I'm excited to report that my proposal to offer an "Introduction to
> > Computer Programming" course at the high school where I teach was
> > accepted and 75 students have signed up for next fall.
> [snipped]
> 
> Do you have a URL pointing to your proposal?  I'd be really interested to
> see it.

Calling it a "proposal" is probably overstating it. I simply filled out the
paperwork that every teacher fills out when they propose a new course.

The rationale for using Python won't be a surprise for any of you. Like many
others, our school only offers AP Computer Programming right now. The result
is that we only get 15 students enrolled. Not surprisingly, many students
are scared away by the prospect of their first programming experience being
in an AP class.

After hearing of Jeff's work at Yorktown and following my own positive
experience with Python, proposing a intro. course using Python was a
no-brainer. No one asked any questions about the choice of Python as the
language for the course.

Here's the little blurb I put in the student registration guide:

"This introductory course will emphasize the essentials of designing and
implementing computer programs. The curriculum will include basic
algorithms, data structures, and syntax of the Python programming
language. The second semester will introduce object-oriented
programming. Every student in the course will receive on CD, at no charge,
an electronic copy of the text, other programming manuals and tutorials, and
all the sofware required to develop complete Python programs for Windows,
Linux, or MacOS."

I'm now sure how much OOP we'll get to having never taught this before.

I'm excited about this course. I hope we can find a way to make room for
three sections.

-Tim

--
Tim Wilson      | Visit Sibley online:         | Check out:
Henry Sibley HS | http://www.isd197.k12.mn.us/ | http://www.zope.org/
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