Homework help requested (not what you think!)

[Aseem Bansal]

On Wednesday, July 17, 2013 4:13:45 AM UTC+5:30, John Ladasky wrote:
> Hi folks,
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> No, I'm not asking for YOU to help ME with a Python homework assignment!
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> Previously, I mentioned that I was starting to teach my son Python.  
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> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.lang.python/I7spp6iC3tw/8lxUXfrL-9gJ
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> He just took a course at his high school called Web Technology and Design.  They had the students use tools like Dream Weaver, but they also hand-coded some HTML and JavaScript.  He has a little experience.  I am building on it.
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> Well, a few other parents caught wind of what I was doing with my son, and they asked me whether I could tutor their kids, too.  I accepted the jobs (for pay, actually).  
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> The kids all claim to be interested.  They all want to write the next great 3D video game.  Thus, I'm a little surprised that the kids don't actually try to sit down and code without me prompting them.  I think that they're disappointed when I show them how much they have to understand just to write a program that plays Tic Tac Toe.
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> Where programming is concerned, I'm an autodidact.  I started programming when I was twelve, with little more guidance than the Applesoft Basic manual and the occasional issue of Byte Magazine.  I hacked away.  Over the years, I have acquired a working knowledge of BASIC, 6502 assembly language, Pascal, C, and finally Python (my favorite).  If I knew how to impart a love of experimentation to my students, I would do that.
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> One kid looks like he's ready to forge ahead.  In the mean time, one parent has recognized his son's lack of independence, and has asked me to assign programming homework.  I hope it doesn't kill the kid's enthusiasm, but I'm willing to try it.
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> So, what I am seeking are suggestions for programming assignments that I can give to brand-new students of Python.  Please keep in mind that none of them are even up to the task of a simple algorithm like Bubble Sort -- at least, not yet.
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> Many thanks!

You can use PySide/QtCreator for getting a skeleton UI as easily as in case of Visual Studio. Converting it into .py files is also quite easy. Experiment a little for yourself in the beginning and you'll be able to make a simple Tic-Tac-Toe easily.

You can then decide how complex that becomes. Remember that computer's behaviour just might be the most complex thing in this whole thing. You can then take that out, explain the students that the game will work if you can make a function for this, explain the logic and that can be a really nice homework assignment.

I think that would be much better than just jumping off to a game engine sidetracking Python completely.

If you want to introduce them to programming in general in a fun way http://scratch.mit.edu/ might be much easier for making simple 2D games. It isn't Python but it is even better introduction to programming than Python(I am saying this even when I use Python everyday and I like it). Scratch isn't for long term but initially this could be their dose of excitement and introduction to the basics of programming. That would give you time to make simple games in PySide for taking them to Python gradually without killing their excitement.