How timely! I just finished teaching this exact nuance to my 9th graders an hour ago! We began by assigning strings, floats, and integers to a set of variables to demonstrate how variables different from Algebra to Python.
When it came to = vs. ==, it was easy to reference the earlier work and say, "Here's another place where Python and your Algebra notation differ." I heard no complaints and only saw one or two errors in students' code. I have to admit that := seems more confusing as it looks a lot like comparison operators >=, <=, and !=. (Plus, it chills the Pascal in my bone marrow!) Kevin On 5/11/06, kirby urner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I don't believe in adding special notation specifically designed for > > beginner's sake - even though I am dedicated in making Python as easy > > to learn as possible. > > > > André > > > > Right. > > Also, math notations which went to the trouble to be self-executing on > a machine (like APL), in some sense deserve our respect for their > precision and consistency. > > Maybe it's plain old, non-executing (dead) algebra that should change. > > Phase in Python notation much earlier and discuss the old pre-Python > use of the assignment operator as "from a different namespace" > (perhaps deprecated). > > Just because a bunch of oldies used typography the way they did, > doesn't mean we have to warp everything we do in future to be backward > compatible. > > I look at self-executing math notations as defining a cutting edge, > not as poor imitators of some obsolote text book way of doing things. > > In fact, why do we teach "algebra" at all in the old fashioned sense? > > In my view, tackling this set of topics without a computer language is > indefensible except in cases where some invading/conquering power has > an agenda of keeping the kids dumb (in which case, the *real* schools > have to go underground, as is happening in the USA). > > Kirby > > > > -Winston > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > > > winston wolff - (646) 827-2242 - http://www.stratolab.com > > > learning by creating - video game courses for kids in new york > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Edu-sig mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Edu-sig mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig > > > _______________________________________________ > Edu-sig mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig > _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
