On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:51:16 -0500, <edu-sig-requ...@python.org> wrote:
>>> Likewise, an introductory computer language should be >>> close to self-explanatory. ?It will be difficult to get math and science >>> teachers to accept it, if they have to make extra efforts explaining the >>> notation. ?Getting math and science teachers to accept computation as a >>> vital part of their curricula is my current focus, so I wouldn't try to push >>> something like your example above. > > There are a number of math, science, and Computer Science textbooks in > which APL or J is the math notation throughout, being taught only as > needed without interrupting the main sequence of ideas. I can give you > citations. There is very little done in this manner in any other > programming language. (If you have seen some, please send me the > information.) I much prefer this approach to the usual one of teaching > programming language syntax and semantics in a vacuum, with no > systematic application to anything. I attest to this. Those books use the language as "executable notation". I've been trying to do the same with LogoFE for some time, here for example: http://neoparaiso.com/logo/olimpiada-matematica-nivel-1.html You might notice there is very few procedure definitions. Solutions to problems are simply transformations of inputs into outputs. The process of finding a solution to a problem is simply: showing (printing) the steps that convert the inputs into the solution. Daniel _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
