[Noisebridge-discuss] The future of Python class at Noisebridge
jim
jim at systemateka.com
Tue Oct 5 19:36:49 UTC 2010
I love the idea of little tests, maybe very small
(fifteen-minute) feature-specific hands-on exercises
and maybe some alternate problems that are meatier
(I'm not much into games; I like the idea of working
with third-party modules).
On Tue, 2010-10-05 at 12:22 -0700, Laura Khalil wrote:
> Hey Adit,
>
>
> I took Dan's class when he just got on board (over a year ago) and
> really enjoyed it. I haven't been back in an age, but glad to hear
> you're thinking of keeping it alive.
>
>
> One thing about Invent with Python: Al does a great job of giving an
> overview of Python. However, the book is written for kids, so
> everything is spelled out -- there's little to challenge the adult
> user to try and figure things out on his own. Personally, I find this
> critical to my understanding of a programming language.
>
>
> I still think it's a great book, but may be better served if it could
> be supplemented with test questions/homework problems to apply what's
> learned.
>
>
> Laura
>
> On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 11:36 AM, aditya bhargava
> <aditya at wefoundland.com> wrote:
> Mark himself has said that Dive Into Python has become
> outdated and he hasn't had time to update it. I was thinking
> of going with Al's book for this class. Game dev looks like a
> popular way of getting into coding and I think it's because of
> the payoff at the end where you get to play your own game. I
> looked over the book and it has the kind of projects that
> people would sincerely enjoy working on. Overall I think we
> will have the most fun with that book.
>
> I'm picturing the class as a beginner's intro to programming,
> with Python as the language of choice and Invent With Python
> as the book of choice. I'm down for running the classes. If
> anyone else is interested in tag-teaming it, or if people want
> to come and talk about specialized topics intermittently, I
> would be down for that too.
>
> Daniel, I have questions for you about what you've covered so
> far...maybe we should take that conversation off the NB
> mailing list?
>
>
> Adit
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 11:06 AM, jim <jim at systemateka.com>
> wrote:
>
> Many thanks.
>
>
>
> On Tue, 2010-10-05 at 10:21 -0700, Daniel C.
> Silverstein wrote:
> > The examples in Dive Into Python are needlessly
> complex, and, in some
> > cases, hopelessly outdated. Also, like Think
> Python, I find the order
> > of topics to be questionable.
> >
> > Zed Shaw has an amusing and vitriolic rant re: Dive
> Into Python here:
> > http://oppugn.us/posts/1272050135.html
> > I don't necessarily agree with the entire rant, but
> I agree with the
> > spirit of it.
> >
> > (Dan)
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 10:15 AM, jim
> <jim at systemateka.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'd love to know your take on Dive into Python.
> > > Can you summarize?
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, 2010-10-05 at 09:30 -0700, Daniel C.
> Silverstein wrote:
> > >> I should point out that, over time, I became
> dissatisfied with Think
> > >> Python and Dive into Python. I have not used
> Al's book so I can't
> > >> comment on it for good or bad. More recently
> I've been using the
> > >> Google Python Class curriculum available here:
> > >>
> http://code.google.com/edu/languages/google-python-class/
> > >>
> > >> (Dan)
> > >>
> > >> On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 8:13 AM, jim
> <jim at well.com> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > The Monday night Python class began as a
> SF-LUG Python
> > >> > study group with Asheesh as mentor. Asheesh
> left the
> > >> > region to set up openhatch.org and Daniel took
> over,
> > >> > formalizing the meeting somewhat as a class
> with teacher,
> > >> > and has hung in there for over a year.
> > >> > You can change the approach as you see fit.
> You might
> > >> > take it on with someone else to share the
> mentoring or
> > >> > lecture role or revert to study group format by
> reducing
> > >> > the role of the mentor or whatever. If you
> share the role,
> > >> > you have the plus side of better continuity
> (each mentor
> > >> > can take a break) but the with price of keeping
> in sync
> > >> > with each other. There's at least one other NB
> member
> > >> > who's got very good Python skills with an
> aptitude for
> > >> > teaching.
> > >> >
> > >> > I believe there are two main aspects to
> support:
> > >> > * provide real-world, simple examples that
> demand that
> > >> > attendees think out the problem solution in
> terms of
> > >> > Python language features and Pythonic
> techniques.
> > >> > * accommodate stone beginners and also people
> who are
> > >> > approaching intermediate levels. The Dive into
> Python
> > >> > book is available on line and might work for
> both
> > >> > groups. Al Sweigart's book, Invent Your Own
> Computer
> > >> > Games with Python, is currently in the Turing
> room
> > >> > and I believe has been used in the Python
> class; it's
> > >> > certainly suitable for beginners and to some
> degree
> > >> > to extending Python skills. The book that
> Asheesh
> > >> > first chose as a basis for the group is Python
> for
> > >> > Software Design: How to Think Like a Computer
> > >> > Scientist and for a while, at least, Daniel
> stuck
> > >> > with it.
> > >> >
> > >> > http://diveintopython.org/
> > >> > http://inventwithpython.com/
> > >> > http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/
> > >> >
> > >> > (my opinions: ) I and a few others have had
> some
> > >> > objections to parts of the Think Python text.
> I'd not use
> > >> > it in favor of Al's book and Dive into Python.
> > >> > I think sticking to the current schedule
> (Monday
> > >> > evenings from 6:30 to 8:00) is important.
> > >> > There are several Python groups in the bay
> area, and
> > >> > one or more of their members might be willing
> to share
> > >> > the leader role or come in for an occasional
> lecture or
> > >> > point you to examples at times you find your
> own well dry.
> > >> >
> > >> > http://www.pygamesf.org/
> > >> > http://www.pywebsf.org/
> > >> > http://www.baypiggies.net/
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > On Mon, 2010-10-04 at 23:56 -0700, aditya
> bhargava wrote:
> > >> >> I have a fair amount of experience in the
> language, but I've never
> > >> >> been to one of these classes. What are they
> usually like? I can
> > >> >> volunteer to make up cheat sheets or talk
> about specialized topics if
> > >> >> there's interest in that. Off the top of my
> head, I could talk about:
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> - scientific computing in Python
> > >> >> - working with Django
> > >> >> - writing modules in C++ using Boost::Python
> and other alternatives
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Adit
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 10:11 PM, Daniel C.
> Silverstein
> > >> >> <cubes at ghosthacked.net> wrote:
> > >> >> Howdy,
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Would anyone be interested in taking
> over teaching Python
> > >> >> class at
> > >> >> Noisebridge going forward? Python is
> one of the longest
> > >> >> running
> > >> >> classes at Noisebridge, and I've
> personally been teaching it
> > >> >> for the
> > >> >> better part of the last year and a
> half. I think it may be
> > >> >> time for
> > >> >> me to move on to other pursuits, but
> I'd rather not see the
> > >> >> class die.
> > >> >> Historically, Python class has been
> on Monday evenings from
> > >> >> 6:30 to
> > >> >> 8:00, but if anyone is interested in
> teaching it, I'm sure
> > >> >> he/she
> > >> >> would be welcome to reschedule.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> (Dan)
> > >> >>
> _______________________________________________
> > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > >> >>
> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > >> >>
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> --
> > >> >> wefoundland.com
> > >> >>
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> > >> >>
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> > >> >
> > >> >
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> > >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> wefoundland.com
>
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