[Edu-sig] For classroom use...

[Vern Ceder]

Thanks, that does answer my question.

For my part, I've also taken to giving an exit survey every time I teach 
Python, whether to 8th and 9th graders or to teachers. While not really 
scientific, I've found it very useful in refining approaches.

Cheers,
Vern

kirby urner wrote:
> On 2/9/07, *Vern Ceder* <vceder at canterburyschool.org 
> <mailto: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/ <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
>  
>  
>  

-- 
This time for sure!
    -Bullwinkle J. Moose
-----------------------------
Vern Ceder, Director of Technology
Canterbury School, 3210 Smith Road, Ft Wayne, IN 46804
vceder at canterburyschool.org; 260-436-0746; FAX: 260-436-5137