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* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 260-436-0746; FAX: 260-436-5137 _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
