Transcript Alice and Python A Great Combination for a Pre

Alice and Python
A Great Combination for a Pre-AP Class
by Rose Hopkins
Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL
Picture created by Kevin Doherty
Naperville North HS
Naperville North High School
 western suburb of Chicago
 around 3,000 students
 part of a unit school district with another high
school (middle schools and elementary schools
feeding into it)
 average ACT score of school is 25.4 (out of 36, IL
avg around 20-21)
 graduation rate is over 98%
 74% white, 5% black, 4% Hispanic, 16% Asian
Programming Courses
 Programming 1 (one semester)
 Programming 2 (one semester)
 AP Computer Programming--Java (prerequisite is
at least Programming 1)
Enrollment this year:
 Programming 1—two classes first semester, one
class second semester (74 students total)
 Programming 2—one class second semester (17
students)
 AP Computer Programming usually in the 20s
Alice and Python together this year
 previously taught True Basic for beginning




programming classes
curriculum jointly approved by both schools
agreed to use both Alice and Python but had
some flexibility
I used 4-5 weeks of Alice at the beginning of
semester and did a few days of Alice events
later (Programming 1)
Alice with mostly Python for Programming 2
What is Python?
 free easy-to-use programming language with an
IDE called IDLE, see www.python.org
 creator is Guido van Rossum, who works for
Google (one-third of Google’s code is in Python)
 can be object-oriented but didn’t use this until
Programming 2
 perfect “transition” language to Java (AP) – many
similarities, only easier (less syntax)
Programming 1 Schedule
Alice
Python
Alice
• getting used to programming & terminology
• conditions (if/else)
• loops--“loop” (look at “complicated version”) &“while”
•
•
•
•
getting used to Python-specific environment
revisiting conditions and loops
tuples and lists (array lists)
writing functions
• events
Programming 2 Schedule (optional
course for AP)
Alice
Python
• lists ->“For all in order” and “For all together”
• parameters
•
•
•
•
•
file I/O
exceptions
objects and writing classes
GUI (events)
gaming
Alice or • final project
Python
Advantages to these languages
for a pre-AP class
 looping the same as in Java (index starting at 0)
 Python’s “for ___ in ___” and Alice’s “for all in order”
like Java’s “for each” loop
 previously learned concepts will help them understand:
 lists (ArrayList)
 events
 objects/properties/methods
in Java
 have students learn recursion in Alice when doing
recursion unit in Java (it’s easier!!)
Benefits to having both
 reinforces programming concepts by seeing them
in two languages
 allows students to work in Alice when they have
completed the Python lab assignments (good way
to use their free time!)
 allows some students to achieve at a higher level
in Alice, some achieve higher level in Python
 students seem happy with the combination 
Participated in Spirit
 Surprising Possibilities Imagined and Realized
through Information Technology
 See SPIRIT website: www.ITPossibilities.org
 Supported by a $1.26M grant from the National
Science Foundation, #DRL-0737679, 1/08-12/10
 Attract more people to IT, especially women
 Intervention programs for HS teachers, HS
counselors, and HS students
What are the goals of Spirit?
 Correct negative perceptions about IT
 IT skills relevant to a broad range of disciplines
 IT can benefit society
 IT can be fun, welcoming, interesting
 Both men and women can have successful careers
in IT
 Let participants try out and create many
interesting & useful applications of IT
 Give guidance on what to do now to have a
successful career in IT
Spirit continues this summer and next …
 2-week teacher institute
 Week 1—Learn Alice and develop lesson plans
 Week 2
 Practice instructing students
 Participate in other activities to show IT's relevance to and support
of STEM disciplines
 1-week program for counselors (during week 2 above)
 1-week summer camp for students (during week 2
above)
 SPIRIT contact: Alka Harriger
 Phone: 765-494-2565
 Email: [email protected]
 www.ITPossibilities.org