[Noisebridge-discuss] The future of Python class at Noisebridge
aditya bhargava
aditya at wefoundland.com
Tue Oct 5 19:56:05 UTC 2010
I had a few more ideas about this. I thought I could create an egg that
would just be "the python class at noisebridge". It would be full of modules
that could get progressively more interesting as the class went on. These
could be used in assignments. So anyone wanting to join the class could just
do
$ easy_install nb_python
And then assignments could be things like
from nb_python import assignment1 as hangman
I would have the boring parts of the hangman code written, it would be up to
the student to flesh out the more interesting parts.
Adit
On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 12:36 PM, jim <jim at systemateka.com> wrote:
>
> 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 outdated and he hasn't had time to update it.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
> > > >> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > > >> >>
> >
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> _______________________________________________
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> > > >>
> >
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> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > wefoundland.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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>
>
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