[IAEP] Feedback request for my Python tutorial

[Caryl Bigenho]

Hi...I checked my copy of the email and the formatting I put in the example was "lost" in transmission! At least, it disappears when I open the message. Strangely, it reappears when I go into the "Reply" mode. I don't know if this is a flaw in the Mac, or Safari, or Hotmail.  I hope you will be able to see a correct version so you will see what I am talking about!
Caryl
From: cbigenho at hotmail.com
To: dinko.galetic at gmail.com; iaep at lists.sugarlabs.org
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 22:22:55 -0700
Subject: Re: [IAEP] Feedback request for my Python tutorial








Hello Dinko,
This is a nice project and I will take some time over the next week or 2 to look at it in detail.  I notice a few "typos" that I can help with and will send them along later.  However I do have a question and a couple of suggestions at this point after glancing at the download.
Question: Why are some sections unix files and others plain text?  What are we supposed to open the unix files on? I am using a Mac right now, but have an XO and a Windows PC available as well.  Did you mean for everything to be the same format... either unix or text?
Suggestion: When a term is used in a Python tutorial do not assume your reader knows what it stands for or means. Keeping a glossary of terms will help teach the reader more than simple mysterious commands.  For example the > and < signs could be explained (very young readers will not know these).  Also the term "int." I assume it stands for "integer."  If so, tell us somewhere that it does and what an integer is. If not... what does it represent? Is it just a variable that you picked? 
Suggestion: Large blocks of text are very intimidating.  If you can break them up into smaller units (paragraphs) it will make it easier for the reader.  Actually, it could also be helpful it the code part of your example was shown as you have it and the rest be in another font it will help the reader. Like this from your Lesson 5:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 1
# example startagain = Truewhile again == True:    print "Please enter a number: "    try:        num = int(raw_input())        again = False    except:        print "Error!"
print "Here's my number:", num# example end
I suggest you think about this code before hitting enter to continue. Try to understand exactly what each line does - that's a good way to check how well you've learned from previous lessons. When you continue, you'll get a short explanation of the code so you can check if you got it right.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have put the code part in 10pt New Courier and the rest in 12pt Franklin Gothic.  This sort of formatting will make things much easier for your readers.
I'm glad you have this project underway.  It will be very useful. When it is finished, we will need to get some people to translate it into other languages as well so OLPC users all over the world can enjoy using it.
Caryl (aka SweetXOGrannie)



From: dinko.galetic at gmail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 14:56:35 +0200
To: iaep at lists.sugarlabs.org
Subject: [IAEP] Feedback request for my Python tutorial

Hello everyone, 

I'm a GSOC student working for Sugarlabs this summer. Right now I'm working on a Python tutorial for Pippy. 
I would love to get some opinions on what I've done so far: my approach, the quality of materials etc. - all the teaching aspects you can think of.


I hope you can comment on at least some of the lessons I've made. It's available in my repository[1].

Thanks,
Dinko Galetic

[1] http://git.sugarlabs.org/projects/pippy/repos/dgaletic-gsoc2010/blobs/raw/8298e68c5a4f9add12b45531ccbb7ad67b6f7c52/Pippy-Python_lessons.tar.gz



 		 	   		  
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