On Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 8:55 AM, kirby urner <kirby.ur...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > One reason I encourage core Python for more elementary courses is I'm > > wanting to open a window into the language itself, not an application > > written in that language. And even in a course utilizing SAGE, I'd initially focus on pure Python. A student is going to be able to use SAGE a whole lot more effectively if they first have a good Pythonic background. So even though SAGE provides all kinds of amazing functionality, we'd still want the kids to be able to compose some of that functionality on their own from scratch. Same thing even with Python's various math libraries. All kinds of great tools ready to go, but sometimes in education we actually do want to re-invent the wheel! Like building your own radio. For example, there's a square root function in there. But in a computational math class, let's talk about how you can find the square root of a number by dividing and averaging - Newton's method. Once you set up this process, how many times do you need to iterate through it? If you test for pure equality, you're going to hang, so you need to define how close is 'close enough'. Lots of good math and programming discussion there. I realized awhile ago that the tension between using calculators in the classroom vs. using a programming language is more broadly framed as CAS vs. CTL: Computer Algebra System vs. Computational Thinking Language. SAGE completely synthesizes the two. If you need some powerful CAS tools, great. You've got whatever you need! Or, if you want to model and test your own ideas, great! You've got the ease of Python right there. > > That being said, Sage encourages writing in core Python, then working the > API for graphics. Exactly. > >In terms of selling your department on the relevance of Python to math > learning, I think Sage is a significant asset, >something to show and tell about. > Precisely what's been happening! Just a week ago I prepared something for the math and science departments showing them what kinds of tools are available for students who've learned a little Python. They were pretty impressed with the ease of the 3d graphics. Built in Platonic solids? How cool! - Michel
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