To capitalize on the reference to the Head First series, let me add my own somewhat self-serving plug.
Right now I'm laboring away on storyboards for Head First Programming with Python, which is intended for first time programmers, people who've MAYBE looked at HTML, but nothing more. Somewhat the same space as Zelle's book, but from the Head First perspective. (Should be out in about a year, give or take, all support appreciated, etc...) In going through the whole Head First process - initial interview, audition, proposal, production - I've never met a group of people quite so obsessed with the details of how people learn stuff. That's saying something, since I've spent 20 years in schools filled with great teachers. So if you find yourself looking for new approaches to your material, I would also really recommend taking some time to look at Head First Design Patterns and Head First HTML and CSS (or any of the series) to see how they work through some very tricky concepts with graphics and humor. Cheers, Vern kirby urner wrote: > On 7/7/07, Jeff Rush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Taken for what its worth as an outsider to the educational system, I've never >> seen much focus on teaching people "*how* to learn" an arbitrary topic. It >> so >> often seems to be trickery (not in a malicious sense) and indirection, to >> reach that ah-ha moment. > > This is what I like about the O'Reilly 'Head First' series, which pays a lot > of > conscious attention to "metacognition". > > http://safari.oreilly.com/0596008678/hfobjects-preface-2-sect-4?imagepage=xxv > > Some of the pedagogical principles (spelled out in each book): > > Make it visual (words within or near graphics) > Conversational and personalized style (what math books often avoid -- too > proud) > Keep it weird (unusual, surprising) > > Related: > > http://worldgame.blogspot.com/2005/01/brainstorming-about-pedagogy.html > http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2003-October/003204.html > http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2007-February/007740.html > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg03821.html > > > Kirby > _______________________________________________ > Edu-sig mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig -- 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
