[Pythonedu-wg] How can you help Python in education today?

Mon Jul 18 05:12:06 EDT 2016

I really like this idea Chris. Like you I am not sure if this could be
easily incorporated into an IDE but it is something we should consider for
the python in edu website.

My only reservation is with the language used in the example supplied here
http://codingclub.co.uk/EdDoc/. I think it is still too high level for
young people. Hell, I don't even understand "A function available after
importing the built-in random module. Returns a random value from a
container data-type." Can we simplify the language for novices? I'm not
sure if this was simply because you wanted to share an idea of structure
rather than content? If so apologises Chris.

Any further thoughts anyone?

Carrie Anne.

On Fri, Jul 15, 2016 at 12:17 PM, Chris Roffey <chris at codingclub.co.uk>
wrote:

> Dear Carrie Anne and Amit
>
> I too have been concerned about the Python documentation being too
> difficult for students to understand.
>
> To be easy to teach, navigate and to link to in IDEs, the documentation
> requires a clear and logical structure.
>
> To be easily understandable and accessible to youngsters, the language in
> the documentation needs to be concise and clear and with a consistent
> style. This means, in my mind, that although it can be a community
> endeavour, it needs an agreed structure first and a good copy-editor at the
> end.
>
> To see what this would involve I have had a go and discovered it will be a
> big job. Well worth sharing!
> I have experimented with a straight html structure but I have no idea if
> this is the best way of doing this to make it easy to incorporate in IDEs.
> I suspect XML would be better.
>
> I have produced a nested index system with plain english descriptions
> provided all the way through but ending in a single page with a logical
> name that could be used in IDEs. So, for example, the random.choice()
> function has its own page with the same headings as other functions and is
> accessed by navigating through built-in modules then random (which has its
> own description) then then clicking on the choice() link which has its own
> description.
>
> I have not explored classes and their corresponding methods provided by
> modules built this way because I think it is pretty easy to see how these
> can follow the same system.
>
> Anyway, have a look and see what you think: http://codingclub.co.uk/EdDoc/
> (I have used an obvious link style so you can clearly see where I have
> provided examples. This is not a comprehensive Documentation set!!)
>
> Best wishes
> Chris
>
> On 13 Jul 2016, at 07:32, Carrie Anne Philbin <carrieanne at raspberrypi.org>
> wrote:
>
> This is a great blog by a teacher in Bath who I believe is on this mailing
> list. I'm sure she can give you a list, but to start with here is the post
> <https://codeboom.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/scratch-is-the-new-powerpoint/>
> I was referring to.
>
> I hope some teachers will read this and add their requests for good
> documentation so your offer of help gets snapped up! As Nicholas mentioned,
> a Python in education website is being formulated. We will need good
> documentation for it. More details to come!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carrie Anne.
>
> On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 5:12 AM, Amit Saha <amitsaha.in at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 3:52 AM, Carrie Anne Philbin
>> <carrieanne at raspberrypi.org> wrote:
>> > I've been distracted lately by all of the work that the micro-python
>> group
>> > have been doing to support the BBC micro:bit. Work that continues and
>> needs
>> > your support.
>> >
>> > 1. Work is continuing on Mu the learner focused Python IDE. The team
>> would
>> > really appreciate your thoughts and feedback, especially if you work
>> with
>> > young people or those new to Python. You can do so here, on another
>> thread
>> > or on the Microbit-Python mailing list.
>> >
>> > 2. Support for teachers/learners. If you need support learning python or
>> > teaching with python then why not start a thread here? A wonderful
>> Python
>> > community person will help you out. This is a really quick and simply
>> way
>> > that members can get involved. They want to help you!
>> >
>> > 3. Lesson plans, tutorials/resources. Have you written any that you
>> want to
>> > share with others? Then share them here with a new thread. Spread the
>> love!
>> >
>> > 4. Documentation. Recently CodeBoom wrote a really good blog post about
>> the
>> > lack of good documentation for python modules that are used in
>> education.
>> > Could educators on this list, collate their most used modules that need
>> > documenting for those wanting to get started with them. Could others
>> help
>> > with this?
>>
>> I would be keen to help with the documentation. Can you please point
>> to the post you are referring to?
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > 5. Education bundle. Dan Pope started a thread sharing his progress on
>> this.
>> > Can you provide feedback, ideas, suggestions, a pat on the back, testing
>> > opportunities in the future?
>>
>> I am looking forward to help with the edu bundle too.
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > The moral here is do not let this WG die! Everyone always asks me "how
>> can I
>> > get involved?" Educators share your success, failures and frustrations.
>> > Community members share your ideas, solutions and good-will.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Carrie Anne.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Director of Education
>> > Raspberry Pi Foundation
>> > UK Charity No. 1129409
>> >
>> > www.raspberrypi.org | www.codeclub.org.uk
>> > @ | in | ▷
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Pythonedu-wg mailing list
>> > Pythonedu-wg at python.org
>> > https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonedu-wg
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://echorand.me
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Director of Education
> Raspberry Pi Foundation
> UK Charity No. 1129409
>
> www.raspberrypi.org | www.codeclub.org.uk
> @ <http://twitter.com/missphilbin> | in
> <https://uk.linkedin.com/in/carrie-anne-philbin-a20649b7> | *▷*
> <https://www.youtube.com/user/GeekGurlDiaries>
>
>
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>
>
>

-- 
Director of Education
Raspberry Pi Foundation
UK Charity No. 1129409

www.raspberrypi.org | www.codeclub.org.uk
@ <http://twitter.com/missphilbin> | in
<https://uk.linkedin.com/in/carrie-anne-philbin-a20649b7> | *▷*
<https://www.youtube.com/user/GeekGurlDiaries>
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