Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed3.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.000 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 1.00; '*S*': 0.00; 'python.': 0.02; 'causing': 0.04; 'subject:Python': 0.06; 'familiarity': 0.07; 'level,': 0.07; 'plenty': 0.07; 'from:addr:ethan': 0.09; 'from:addr:stoneleaf.us': 0.09; 'from:name:ethan furman': 0.09; 'message-id:@stoneleaf.us': 0.09; 'subject:language': 0.09; 'toss': 0.09; '~ethan~': 0.09; 'python': 0.11; 'java.': 0.16; 'received:69.93': 0.16; 'received:gateway13.websitewelcome.com': 0.16; 'subject: \n ': 0.16; 'subject:programming': 0.16; 'java,': 0.16; 'do,': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'header:User-Agent:1': 0.23; 'certainly': 0.24; 'subject:/': 0.26; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.27; 'am,': 0.29; "doesn't": 0.30; 'especially': 0.30; 'stuff': 0.32; 'knowledge': 0.35; 'done.': 0.35; 'but': 0.35; 'charset:us-ascii': 0.36; 'level': 0.37; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.38; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'enough': 0.39; 'either': 0.39; 'problems.': 0.60; 'received:173': 0.61; 'world': 0.66; 'sound': 0.68; "today's": 0.70; 'gain': 0.79 Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 14:02:23 -0800 From: Ethan Furman User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:16.0) Gecko/20121010 Thunderbird/16.0.1 MIME-Version: 1.0 To: python-list@python.org Subject: Re: Experiences/guidance on teaching Python as a first programming language References: <201312090824.25211.gheskett@wdtv.com> In-Reply-To: <201312090824.25211.gheskett@wdtv.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-AntiAbuse: This header was added to track abuse, please include it with any abuse report X-AntiAbuse: Primary Hostname - gator3304.hostgator.com X-AntiAbuse: Original Domain - python.org X-AntiAbuse: Originator/Caller UID/GID - [47 12] / [47 12] X-AntiAbuse: Sender Address Domain - stoneleaf.us X-BWhitelist: no X-Source-IP: 173.12.184.233 X-Source: X-Source-Args: X-Source-Dir: X-Source-Sender: ([173.12.184.233]) [173.12.184.233]:54345 X-Source-Auth: ethan+stoneleaf.us X-Email-Count: 1 X-Source-Cap: dG9idWs7dG9idWs7Z2F0b3IzMzA0Lmhvc3RnYXRvci5jb20= X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.15 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 18 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1386714401 news.xs4all.nl 2948 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:59395 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:61504 On 12/09/2013 05:24 AM, Gene Heskett wrote: > > I toss out that > > 1. a semester is insufficient to gain a working familiarity with either > python or java. I don't know about java, but it would certainly be enough to get a good start in Python. > 2. If you want to start at the nuts and bolts level, (and you should) Doesn't sound like they do, as that's causing plenty of problems. In today's world that level of knowledge isn't always necessary, especially if your degree is not in CS. One of the (many) nice things about Python is one doesn't need to know that stuff to Get Things Done. -- ~Ethan~