Saving work is a problem, yes, especially if the computers get wiped weekly, a situation I've not encountered yet.
I'm used to at least one directory being writable, in the class I'm currently teaching that'd be c:\\documents and settings\\...\\saturday-acad or something on Windows 2000, and we append that to sys.path, the first time while learning about namespaces. I would not be in favor of using Knoppix to get around this particular situation. For saving work, a stiffy is probably sufficient (1.44 MB). They're not writing huge programs. Another option: we all have access to the Internet, so they could log in to web based email (assuming they all have accounts) and email attach it to themselves. Or I could open a shared class directory and let them upload to it -- we could use Python itself as the FTP client. But I prefer email as a first option. But in my particular circumstances, the directories will not be wiped weekly, so anything saved today will be there tomorrow, and I'm not assigning homework. So emailing stuff home is optional. Memory stick would be just as acceptable. I'll leave it to each student to decide. This Saturday I'll be screening Warriors of the Net about TCP/IP and we'll look at excerpts from 'Revolution OS' (maybe -- that might have to wait). Mostly, this is a math class though, so we'll start in with Euclid's Algorithm (a classic in Python, one of Guido's), and use that to develop Euler's totient concept, then practice checking (not proving) Euler's theorem: a base to N's totient, modulo N = 1, assuming gcd(base,N)==1. I'm gradually going to channel them into separate projects. I think at least one student, who already knows Python pretty well, could implement a Rational Number class, which he could then explain to the group and make available to others. With a rational number class available, we're in a position to play with Continued Fractions using recursion (there's also a non-recursive approach). I like to converge to Phi from both the continued fractions angle and from the Fibonaccis angle, where Phi has a strong geometric meaning in the world of five-fold symmetric polyhedra (is the diagonal of a regular pentagon of edges 1). Simple sequences is the way to go for others. Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences will be consulted. 1, 12, 42, 92, 162... Very short programs, for those new to programming. Also, in this next class (day after tomorrow), I'll be showing up with my big box of polyhedra and doing the quick backgrounder in Fuller geometry I always do. I present it as a "hole" in their current curriculum that Silicon Forest executives want to see filled. More about that in my London Knowledge Lab, OSCON, PyCon and EuroPython presentations, all on line. Kirby _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
