On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 5:22 PM, A. Jorge Garcia <calcp...@aol.com> wrote: > Vi Hart is amazing. I've seen that YouTube before. You sent that link to > edu-sig some weeks ago, no? > > I recently switched from using SAGE online in class to using python scripts > on a Linux server. > I wonder if I could do some graphics in this setting using python in my > introCS class (aka Computer Math). > I've been looking at vpython, GASP, pygame. >
In my Martian Math class last summer we used VPython to get some interesting graphics. These were newcomer Earthlings who'd mostly never seen Python before, but had a reputation of being quick learners, privileged in the talent department. My approach was to provide the source code pre-written, as scaffolding, and just have them tweak, building literacy that way. http://www.flickr.com/photos/17157...@n00/4863299407/in/set-72157622961425831/ (screen shot) http://www.4dsolutions.net/satacad/martianmath/mm21.html (a lesson plan) http://wikieducator.org/Martian_Math (more background re curriculum) I explain this up front otherwise it looks like I achieved a miracle, and so must be lying, as no one believes in miracles. No, I just used the standard language learning technique of reinforcing recognition over recall, if that makes any sense to anyone. > Whatever happened to turtle graphics? My students login to my sever via > ssh, ie > ssh use...@10.5.129.25 > or if they need to tunnel graphics > ssh -Y use...@10.5.129.25 > What is your problem with turtle graphics again, might have missed? Oh, I think I get it (see below). Gregor Lingl here on edu-sig has been maintaining that package, which is cross-platform because working in Tk. ** But then you probably have any number of Java applets and free Logo implementations, plus of your school spends dough on software, the sky's the limit on cartoony 3D Logo worlds, or so I'm led to believe (my budget hovers around negative zero, where software is concerned). > Can they do graphics with one of the aforementioned python libraries this > way? > Oh, I maybe see the problem, you're talking about more like a dumb terminal setup with X running in a server session if at all. You're going over the network to get Python. Do they get a GUI desktop? GNOME? Sounds like they don't. No graphical browser in this world either eh? In my Martian Math class, each kid had their own super fancy Apple with giant flatscreen. Privileged Earthlings these were. We used IDLE, which works better with VPython than it does with its own native Tk. Kirby > TIA, > A. Jorge Garcia > Applied Math and CompSci > http://shadowfaxrant.blogspot.com > http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009 > > ** deeply buried mention of Gregor in this recap of some 2010 activities on another list, FYI: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synergeo/message/63983 _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
