• ICE 2007

Computer Programming for Everybody: Python

Presented at the Indiana Computer Educators 2007 conference, Jan 25, 2007

Python is one of the fastest growing programming languages today, used for everything from Web applications (Google) to scientific analysis and control (NASA). Python is powerful and flexible, but also easy to use and free, making it a great teaching language. We will cover simple Python programs, ways that Python can be used to teach basic programming concepts in middle and high school, and available texts and online resources.

• Presenters:

  • Vern Ceder, Canterbury School, email: vceder<AT>canterburyschool.org, http://tech.canterburyschool.org/tech/VernCeder

  • Anita Bates, Canterbury School, email: abates<AT>canterburyschool.org

• This File: http://tech.canterburyschool.org/tech/ICE_202007

Programming handouts

Morning Session (used with our 8th grade)

• Getting started with Python

  • Saving and Running Programs
  • Python "expressions"
  • Variables
  • Errors

  • for loops

• Creating a simple game

  • Random numbers

  • conditionals (if, else)

  • while loops

• Graphics with Python

  • Turtle graphics
  • Combining previous elements

Afternoon Session (used with our 9th grade)

• Python without Text

  • Saving and running programs
  • Variables
  • Random numbers

  • while loops

  • 2-D grid plotting
  • Using external modules

• It Moves...

  • Animation

  • Conditionals (if statements)

• Taking Control

  • Generalizing patterns
  • Complex problems

  • for loops

Generally

• Progressive improvement
• Problem solving
• Generalizing patterns
• Combining previously learned elements

The above are in .pdf format. If you want the source, email Vern at the email address above

Supplementary files

• turtle.py (Included in Python 2.5. It is only needed for Python 2.4 or earlier.)

• LiveWires Windows Installer Source (run setup.py in LiveWires-2.0.2 folder)

Links

Just-in-Time vs Just-in-Case Learning from Kathy Sierra "Creating Passionate Users"

General

1. http://www.python.org Python's Home Page - This is the best place to start, in general

2. http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide A Beginner's Guide to Python

3. http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/pyBiblio/ PyBiblio - stuff relating to teaching with Python

Documentation and Books

1. http://www.python.org/doc/2.4.2/ Python Documentation

2. http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntroductoryBooks Introductory Python Books

3. http://python.oreilly.com/ O'Reilly's Python Center

Texts and Tutorials

1. http://thinkpython.com/ How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python

2. http://diveintopython.org/ Dive Into Python: Python for Experienced Programmers

3. http://www.byteofpython.info/ A Byte of Python

4. http://www.python.org/doc/Intros.html The Official Python List of tutorials

5. http://docs.python.org/tut/tut.html Guido's Python Tutorial

6. http://www.hetland.org/python/instant-python.php Instant Python (for programmers)

7. http://www.hetland.org/python/instant-hacking.php Instant Hacking (for non-programmers)

8. http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld/ Learning to Program (for non-programmers)

Coming (I hope) in 2008: Head First Introduction to Programming with Python, Vern Ceder, O'Reilly Media

Software

1. http://vpython.org/ Visual Python - AKA vpython

2. http://pygame.org/ PyGame - Game and graphics programming in Python