On Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 8:31 AM, Sarina Canelake <sar...@mit.edu> wrote:
> Hi Carl, > > I am a master's student, and for my project I am building an interactive > Python tutor system, hopefully with 150-250 problems, as well as embedded > video. Some of my inspirations have been the Khan Academy and codingbat. > > Heads up re talk at OSCON this year by Scott Gray (full disclosure: I work for the guy) ranting against several categories of interactive courseware, but namely "watch a video then play the match game with canned quiz show type questions". There's no "making with tools", no "apprenticeship". Anyway, just saying there's a spectrum. This isn't about passing judgment on any particular system, either. Our Python Track has lots of "no brainer" quiz questions for student reinforcement. It's not like this doesn't feel like a school (though more asynchronous and with less emphasis on externally imposed deadlines). The projects tend to be Python modules, or pairs, with one unit testing the other. Teachers provide feedback. Any time you see complete automation on the back end, I say you have a competitive edge if you add a human touch. Our testing instruments are all hand graded, and projects come with real advisers, albeit not in real time (it's an asynchronous UI). Kirby
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