[IAEP] [Sugar-devel] About to teach Python programming

[James Simmons]

Steve,

In my book I develop an e-book reader, starting with a standalone program
and then converting it to a simple Activity, followed by adding toolbars,
etc.  The examples are simple but not trivial.  I'm not a big fan of "Hello
World".  I prefer a simple program that actually does something useful.  I
don't have to understand absolutely every line of code to learn from an
example.

My first exposure to Turbo C was Hello World.  However, I really learned
the language by typing in code for useful programs in "C Chest And Other C
Treasures", especially since I didn't always type them in correctly and
then I had to figure out where I went wrong.

If I was teaching a class I'd probably use the examples in my book.  I've
never taught a class in anything so I have no idea if that would work, but
that's how I would do it.

The worst computer class I ever took was my introductory BAL class.  We had
"Green Cards" (IBM Assembly Pocket Reference) and we spent several class
periods going over BAL instructions and what they did.  It was probably the
dumbest way you could teach BAL.

James Simmons


On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 5:08 PM, Steve Thomas <sthomas1 at gosargon.com> wrote:

> On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 9:58 PM, <forster at ozonline.com.au> wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> As a beginner, I found creating a Sugar Activity difficult. More
>> difficult than creating a program to run from Terminal or Pippy. You might
>> get better value using Pygame and writing something that can run from
>> Pippy. The goal could be to create more Pippy built in samples.
>>
>> If you are going to write an Activity, you could give them a 'hello
>> world' template and get them to build on that rather than starting from the
>> beginning. Your 'hello world' template could have the basics:a text box for
>> text entry/display, a canvas for graphical display and an example of
>> keyboard and mouse capture.
>>
> Agreed. Having a template to build on for an Activity would make things
> much simpler.
>
>
>> Good luck. Please ask if you need help.
>>
> Ditto.  When will you start the class?  I am also teaching Python to some
> kids now, and  interested sharing ideas.
>
> Stephen
>
>>
>> Tony
>>
>> > <gerald.ardito at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > > Hello.
>> > > I have been asked by my school district to teach a one semester
>> course on
>> > > computer programming to some of our high school students. I was
>> already
>> > > settled on Python. In my planning, I thought it would be great if the
>> > > students built an application for Sugar/XO Laptop. I have, as I think
>> you
>> > > know, been using them in our school for a few years, I think the
>> transition
>> > > from consumer to producer would be great.
>> > >
>> > > I am not a Python programmer, although I understand the basic
>> concepts and
>> > > can muddle my way through. So,here's my question -- what should the
>> students
>> > > know/be able to do in Python before they are able to write an
>> Activity?
>> >
>> > Beyond the basics, understanding the concept of classes and
>> > inheritance is pretty essential. Some GTK stuff, but that is pretty
>> > straightforward.
>> >
>> > -walter
>> >
>> > >
>> > > I hope this makes sense. And I appreciate your time.
>> > >
>> > > Best,
>> > > Gerald Ardito
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Sugar-devel mailing list
>> > > Sugar-devel at lists.sugarlabs.org
>> > > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Walter Bender
>> > Sugar Labs
>> > http://www.sugarlabs.org
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > Sugar-devel at lists.sugarlabs.org
>> > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel
>> >
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