On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 3:44 PM, cool-RR <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello folks, > > TL;DR version: Would anyone be interested in participating in Python > education projects, either as a teacher/mentor or a manager? > > This topic was possibly discussed here before-- I searched a bit and > couldn't find any past discussions, so I'm raising it now. I'd be happy to > hear any comments, questions, corrections and disagreements to this post. > (I'm absolutely expecting to hear disagreements, because different people > tend to have different opinions about education. So I'll be happy to hear > disagreements) > > This is about Python/OSS education in Israel. I've been thinking these > thoughts for the past year, and discussed some possible solutions with > fellow Python developers. (Including one who is a Python teacher in Vienna.) > > The more OSS-minded Python programmers in Israel, the better, and the way > to get there is to teach Python/OSS to new people, children or adults, > programmers or non-programmers. When I say Python/OSS, I mean teaching > Python but also teaching how to manage a Python project, for example using > source control management, a bug tracker, writing documentation, > communicating with other developers, basic design, and other important > skills for a developer. > > Now, the most Utopian thing would be if the Ministry of Education would > suddenly decide that the 5-unit Bagrut in computers would consist of > learning Python/OSS, including all the skills I mentioned above, and then > the big universities will teach Python in their introductory programming > courses instead of C and Java. That would be heaven, and in my opinion this > will greatly improve Israel's tech scene in 5-10 years. > > But it would be very hard to make it happen, as the Ministry of Education > is very conservative, and so are universities.[1] > > So I was thinking, what can be done which doesn't require the MoE's > cooperation? A few ideas come to mind. > > For example, how about making extra-curricular Python/OSS courses? These > can be either hosted by schools, or in community centers (Matnasim,) or in > schools for gifted children, which are open-minded and have lots of talented > children who can become great programmers. > > Experienced Python developers could come teach Python/OSS to children on > these courses. In contrast to programming classes in school, the teachers > would teach the student how to get help by himself, for example by finding > documentation or asking on mailing lists or StackOverflow. This is so the > kids could get a lot of work done by themselves between classes, and their > time with the teacher will be utilized more efficiently. (Probably most > Python developers wouldn't be interested in being full-time teachers; I'm > thinking about ~5 hours per week with a modest pay.) The students will spend > some time learning programming, and some of the focus would be on making > their own open-source projects. The project will be whatever will seem cool > to them, for example it can be a pygame project, or a simple web app.[2] > > I think that the key to making this work is making it clear to parents that > this course will help their kids get a good career as a software developer. > (If I'm not mistaken, advancing their child's career is the main > consideration that parents have.) We Python developers know how much it > helps one's career to do a few OSS projects; I can testify for myself that > the two OSS projects I did got me from "knows basic Python" to "makes a > living developing in Python and > writes<http://github.com/cool-RR/GarlicSim/blob/master/garlicsim/garlicsim/asynchronous_crunching/job.py> > > readable<http://github.com/cool-RR/GarlicSim/blob/master/garlicsim/garlicsim/general_misc/cute_iter_tools.py> > > code<http://github.com/cool-RR/GarlicSim/blob/master/garlicsim/garlicsim/data_structures/path.py>" > in less than 2 years. I think that the most important thing is to make this > crystal clear for parents: If your child has the talent and the needed > guidance to work on his own OSS project, it will boost his chances for a > good career incredibly; Let's say that the (career improvement)/(time and > money) factor would be at least 5 times higher than going to a university, > and I'd say that's a conservative estimate. If that message will get > through[3], the parents will be happy to pay for the course, and the kids > will be happy because they could dream up any project they want and start > working on it. > > So that's just one idea; It can probably be improved. There are probably > more possible solutions, and I'd be happy to hear them. > > > Of course, the question is: Who wants to take on this project? A project > like this would call for a group of developers who would spend ~5 hours a > week teaching children and helping with their problems; But it will also > call for at least one dedicated project manager, who will coordinate all the > activities, relations with schools, communities, marketing, > accounting, bureaucracy, etc. This will be a hard position to fill; I would > personally be happy to work ~5 hours a week teaching Python, but not more > than that. > > If this plan works and we get parents to pay, then we can have a decent > salary for the manager. > > Is there anyone who might consider managing this project? Let me know > either on the list or privately, as you wish. > > And again, I'll be happy to hear any thoughts about any of this. > > Best wishes, > Ram Rachum. > > > Notes: > > [1] I think that universities get money from corporations like Microsoft > and Sun, and that might have some effect on the technologies they teach, but > I'm not sure about this. > > [2] If I'm not mistaken, when I was in high-school 6 years ago, it was > possible to make a web app as part of the 5-unit Bagrut. I think this was in > ASP. > > [3] Something that would help in getting that message through is to have > managers from big software companies come and confirm this in person. >
(Please reply in English as I've invited an American Python teacher to the discussion.) Ram.
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