> I've tried showing the kids VPython in the first week or two, and they think > it's cool and can type stuff in but they have -no idea- what any of it > means. I have not thought of a way to use it as anything other than > entertainment. > > I would love to hear from someone who feels that they have a fairly > successful high-school programming class. Specifically, I'd love to know in > some detail what you cover in the first month.
I know some say "Kirby's stuff doesn't count" because high schoolers pay money to take my class and are hence "motivated" (not fair!), but I do consider my classes somewhat successful, in terms of high marks for the teacher (they grade me, but not vice versa, confidentially but I'm told I do well). The very day I get back from Lithuania, I start another class. 3.5 hours a day for four days. Rather intensive (especially with jet lag). Lots of VPython, POV-Ray, and maybe some X3D. I've written up my classes, blow by blow, in my blog a few times, plus have this whole CP4E page with a lot of writings. But maybe none of that counts. http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/pymath.html Plus I did a class for Portland Public Schools (all 8th graders @ Winterhaven). I was asked by the administration to make it more geographical in nature, and that's what I did. I'd like to explore this approach again sometime soon. http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/winterhaven/ > I'm seriously thinking about using Scratch rather than Python, for just that > reason -- the cool factor is built-in, it's as accessible as "if" or > "while". > Why think either/or? Use Scratch *and* Python. > Thanks, > Andy > > _______________________________________________ > 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
