[Edu-sig] For classroom use...

[kirby urner]

On 2/9/07, Vern Ceder <vceder at canterburyschool.org> wrote:
>
> kirby urner wrote:
> >
> > Here's some field tested code
>
> I guess I'm kind of curious as to what you mean by "field tested". The
> 'field' part I get, of course. But "tested" how? Or I guess I mean "what
> was the test, and how were the results judged?", if that makes sense...


Fair question.  In this case of coupler.py, my field tester is a
welder-geometer in New Zealand who got it working and then
came back with a VRML world on the same subject.

He's studying Python on his own, using Zelle's book, which
just arrived.

Here're a couple of recent exchanges from a public archive
on Yahoo!:

====

> Yes, stickworks.py and coupler.py should both go in site-packages,
> but then VPython needs to be installed as well. All you get from
> Coupler at the moment is a red and green network of edges,
> centered around the XYZ origin, the axes in blue.
>
> Kirby
>


Hi Kirby:
I have Vpython and with stickworks.py was able to run coupler.py.
I did a SpringDAnce VRML of 8 mites with each corner on a cube
grid.

http://members.westnet.com.au/dharmraj/vrml/KmiteCube.wrl

dharmraj

---

Re: Drafting another storyboard




Kirby
> That's trully excellent. So that's a Coupler then, what you did.

I was hoping you would like it. I thought a visual model of what
you were programming would help


>
> Each MITE is two blue-yellow arms holding a purple, green spine.


true

> Same volume as a tetrahedron, inscribed as face diags of that green
> 2-frequency cube.

true


> What you may have done already (if so, please link?) or might
> want to do, is said 8 mites each subdivided into two As (left
> and right) plus one B (left or right).

is this what you mean?

http://members.westnet.com.au/dharmraj/vrml/coupler.wrl


my new Python book arrived...Python Programming (an introduction
to Computer Science) by John Zelle...

cheers,
sw dharmraj


---

> is this what you mean?
>
> http://members.westnet.com.au/dharmraj/vrml/coupler.wrl
>

Yes, exactly! I'll add that as a link as well, to coupler.py

>
> my new Python book arrived...Python Programming (an introduction
> to Computer Science) by John Zelle...
>
> cheers,
> sw dharmraj
>

That's probably the best published book for starting out with
Python. Later, maybe check the free online Dive Into Python
tutorial, also published by Apress if you want hardcopy.

http://www.diveintopython.org/

Kirby


BTW, I'm not questioning the use VPython by any means - I think its got
> great potential as a way to explore programming.
>
> Cheers,
> Vern


Yes, and to explore geometry, like Arthur was doing with Pygeo.

As far as measuring student success, it's what they're able to code
themselves, using pre-existing code as a basis, that I go by.  Each student
has Python + VPython + various modules.  They save code from week
to week and gradually build up a portfolio.  They show off their creations
when the parents come to pick them up. I asked one of my students to
send me his source code for the 3-frequency tetrahedron but he never
did.

The class itself is written up in my blog, complete with digicam shots
of some of the whiteboard content.  I'm able to fish up some of that
content with the following query:

http://worldgame.blogspot.com/search?q=%22saturday+academy%22

You'll find at least one of my worksheets (PDF) used with 8th graders in
public
school here:

http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/winterhaven/

But I don't publish actual student responses, which would be a clearer
measure of their level of comprehension.

Kirby
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