Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Jeff, I would be happy to be the coordinator. Next question is... What are the official duties of a SIG coordinator? : ) On May 23, 2014 10:40 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: OK, I'm all set with the access I need to edit the edu-sig page. I plan to spend at least part of my time on May 31st (National Day of Civic Hacking) working on the web site. The bottom of our web page currently says: Send suggestions for changes to the edu-sig list., which is a good way to handle suggestions. Looking over the SIG page here: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/, I read: * Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. * SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. * Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. I don't think we have a edu-sig coordinator at present. Would this be something you would be interested in doing, Chalmer? Perhaps Naomi can shed some more light on the practice for the last two years since she started it, but it seems to me that a revived edu-sig would be the logical group to help coordinate the PES. At some point soon we should add edu-sig on the SIG page as one of the currently active SIGs. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff: Thanks for spinning up this conversation. Great stuff. My intent is to volunteer to chair the Python Education Summit (PES) next year (based on Naomi's comments regarding stepping down). I don't know what the formal process is to make that official... Naomi... can you shed light on that? As everyone prolly already knows, that is not a task that can be done alone, so there should be plenty of opportunities for others to get their hands dirty. My guess/hope is that Jessica will want to help again this year. I captured a ton of notes and thoughts that I am putting to paper to outline 'the process' for next year's PES. Planned on putting that up on github as soon as I can. (I'm relocating right now, so free time is a luxury I don't have). Along with supporting the PES, I would love to support the types of efforts you are outlining here. Thanks again for firing up this conversation. chalmer Chalmer Lowe, MS http://projecteuler.net/profile/threelowelifes.png Level 1 On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:32 AM, Andre Roberge andre.robe...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? I have not maintained the page for quite a few years now. I changed computer twice in the meantime. Here's what I remember that I had to do. 1. contact someone on the web support team (pointing out, I think, to the relevant edu-sig discussion) I know you just asked about how to begin, but just in case you'd want to know, here were the next steps. 2. generate some ssh key (if I recall correctly) so that I would be allowed to commit changes 3. download the whole site (first time) or update it thereafter 4. (re)build it locally. 5. edit the relevant rst file 6. rebuild it(repeat 5 and 6 as needed) 7. commit changes 8. repeat steps 3 to 6 as needed (based on suggestions/requests received) Now, it could well be that, with the redesign, the process is much easier and can be done online using a CMS. 2. Is there anyone in this thread not on edu-sig? My next reply will go only to the list. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds like a plan. I would be happy to talk with Selena about the work to bridge the gap between k-12 educators and Python programmers. I was a k-12 teacher for 10 years (music) and I have been working in schools with my program to teach python coding to kids for the past year and a half, so I do have some experience in that area. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee Harr (cc'd here), the creator of the wonderful Pynguin environment (https://code.google.com/p/pynguin/) to join the list and the discussion. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: One point of info I can add - the person you're
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Sounds great. What are you thinking? On May 21, 2014 4:47 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: First off, kudos to Naomi, Jessica, and Chalmer on putting together a thoroughly enjoyable EDU Summit at Pycon! I'm interested in following up from that with some on-going Python in Education work throughout the year, and with the changes in the PSF, that may be the way to go about it. How can we begin? Where do I sign up? Jeff Elkner ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
It has taken a while, but I am finally getting settled into my new job and my new home, after a major relocation from the east coast to the pacific. I am now in a much better position to pick up this conversation and start moving forward with next year's Python Education Summit and working with the community to advance python education. I still have much to do to get the house fully habitable for the family, so don't expect any mad dashes right off the bat, but I certainly want to re-energize the conversation, make plans and begin execution. chalmer On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:15 PM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: I agree, not a problem at all, to include a full spectrum of outreach / initiatives, to K-12 (or the equivalent in other namespaces / systems) and beyond. In terms of the website, I think the edu-sig home page is a good place to start: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig I notice when I'm at the maillist info page and click on edu-sig home page, prominent at the top, I do NOT actually go to the above page, but to a SIGs-in-general page: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig --- https://www.python.org/community/sigs This is clearly broken, and a test of our new administrative muscles would be to get that fixed, I would think. On the home page itself I find at least one dead end link, e.g. under Miscellaneous Software Carpentry http://swc.scipy.org/ by Greg Wilson is a course on software development skills for scientists and engineers. That's not working at all. Maybe it just moved? Kirby On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 6:43 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Which has not been a problem at all. Think of the big involvement from the RIT folks in this year's PES. It's a meritocracy, after all. The volunteers who step forward determine what gets done. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:27 PM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Kirby, I agree, and think there definitely needs to be a focus on both college and community-based education outreach as well. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:26 PM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds good to me, as long as we're clear that promoting Python in education is in no way limited to K-12. I'm a full time teacher of Python to adults and like to think edu-sig is the right venue for my kind of chatter as well. So far, I've felt that way. K-12 is important and welcome, but not the whole show. Kirby ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 at 11:08 AM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: I think the mailing list listowner role and coordinating PES are entirely separate roles. For example we could rotate the latter while keeping the former fixed for many years. The edu-sig page has never mentioned PES. I'd have no problem with Jeff doing both, but I see no reason to confuse the listowner responsibility with any specific event. Other Pycons besides the North American one will have their EduSummits most likely. No one person is going to coordinate them all. Kirby +1 André ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
The Software Carpentry link is fixed. Thanks, Kirby! I can not fix the mailing list settings. The following page: https://mail.python.org/mailman/admin/edu-sig states that wil...@visi.com is running the mailing list. I've cc'd Wilson here. Let's see if that works. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 10:15 PM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: I agree, not a problem at all, to include a full spectrum of outreach / initiatives, to K-12 (or the equivalent in other namespaces / systems) and beyond. In terms of the website, I think the edu-sig home page is a good place to start: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig I notice when I'm at the maillist info page and click on edu-sig home page, prominent at the top, I do NOT actually go to the above page, but to a SIGs-in-general page: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig --- https://www.python.org/community/sigs This is clearly broken, and a test of our new administrative muscles would be to get that fixed, I would think. On the home page itself I find at least one dead end link, e.g. under Miscellaneous Software Carpentry by Greg Wilson is a course on software development skills for scientists and engineers. That's not working at all. Maybe it just moved? Kirby On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 6:43 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Which has not been a problem at all. Think of the big involvement from the RIT folks in this year's PES. It's a meritocracy, after all. The volunteers who step forward determine what gets done. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:27 PM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Kirby, I agree, and think there definitely needs to be a focus on both college and community-based education outreach as well. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:26 PM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds good to me, as long as we're clear that promoting Python in education is in no way limited to K-12. I'm a full time teacher of Python to adults and like to think edu-sig is the right venue for my kind of chatter as well. So far, I've felt that way. K-12 is important and welcome, but not the whole show. Kirby ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Let's see if Naomi has anything different to say, but doesn't it make sense that the main task of the edu-sig coordinator would be to coordinate the edu-sig's main event, the PES? On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 10:42 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff, I would be happy to be the coordinator. Next question is... What are the official duties of a SIG coordinator? : ) On May 23, 2014 10:40 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: OK, I'm all set with the access I need to edit the edu-sig page. I plan to spend at least part of my time on May 31st (National Day of Civic Hacking) working on the web site. The bottom of our web page currently says: Send suggestions for changes to the edu-sig list., which is a good way to handle suggestions. Looking over the SIG page here: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/, I read: * Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. * SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. * Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. I don't think we have a edu-sig coordinator at present. Would this be something you would be interested in doing, Chalmer? Perhaps Naomi can shed some more light on the practice for the last two years since she started it, but it seems to me that a revived edu-sig would be the logical group to help coordinate the PES. At some point soon we should add edu-sig on the SIG page as one of the currently active SIGs. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff: Thanks for spinning up this conversation. Great stuff. My intent is to volunteer to chair the Python Education Summit (PES) next year (based on Naomi's comments regarding stepping down). I don't know what the formal process is to make that official... Naomi... can you shed light on that? As everyone prolly already knows, that is not a task that can be done alone, so there should be plenty of opportunities for others to get their hands dirty. My guess/hope is that Jessica will want to help again this year. I captured a ton of notes and thoughts that I am putting to paper to outline 'the process' for next year's PES. Planned on putting that up on github as soon as I can. (I'm relocating right now, so free time is a luxury I don't have). Along with supporting the PES, I would love to support the types of efforts you are outlining here. Thanks again for firing up this conversation. chalmer Chalmer Lowe, MS http://projecteuler.net/profile/threelowelifes.png Level 1 On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:32 AM, Andre Roberge andre.robe...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? I have not maintained the page for quite a few years now. I changed computer twice in the meantime. Here's what I remember that I had to do. 1. contact someone on the web support team (pointing out, I think, to the relevant edu-sig discussion) I know you just asked about how to begin, but just in case you'd want to know, here were the next steps. 2. generate some ssh key (if I recall correctly) so that I would be allowed to commit changes 3. download the whole site (first time) or update it thereafter 4. (re)build it locally. 5. edit the relevant rst file 6. rebuild it(repeat 5 and 6 as needed) 7. commit changes 8. repeat steps 3 to 6 as needed (based on suggestions/requests received) Now, it could well be that, with the redesign, the process is much easier and can be done online using a CMS. 2. Is there anyone in this thread not on edu-sig? My next reply will go only to the list. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds like a plan. I would be happy to talk with Selena about the work to bridge the gap between k-12 educators and Python programmers. I was a k-12 teacher for 10 years (music) and I have been working in schools with my program to teach python coding to kids for the past year and a half, so I do have some experience in that area. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
As far as coordinating the PyCon Education Summit, I don't think there is a strong precedent for any connection between Edu-Sig and running the summit. In general, PyCon people are just that - PyCon organizing spots aren't tied officially to any other Python organizations they may well be on the PSF, the board, etc... but they certainly don't have to be, other than Ewa, who is officially board secretary and event coordinator. PyLadies events might be an exception, but otherwise I'm not thinking of any. Since I initially pitched the first summit to Edu-Sig to less than lukewarm support, I'm a little surprised now to hear the summit being proposed as the official event of Edu-Sig... not that I'm against it, particularly, but I do think committed individuals are often more effective at getting specific things done. :-) Still if that's what you all want to do, and it can be a catalyst to re-invigorate Edu-Sig and make it more representative of all kinds of Python education, I certainly wouldn't object. So my short answer is, there is no precedent, do what you think best. Cheers, Naomi On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: OK, I'm all set with the access I need to edit the edu-sig page. I plan to spend at least part of my time on May 31st (National Day of Civic Hacking) working on the web site. The bottom of our web page currently says: Send suggestions for changes to the edu-sig list., which is a good way to handle suggestions. Looking over the SIG page here: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/, I read: * Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. * SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. * Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. I don't think we have a edu-sig coordinator at present. Would this be something you would be interested in doing, Chalmer? Perhaps Naomi can shed some more light on the practice for the last two years since she started it, but it seems to me that a revived edu-sig would be the logical group to help coordinate the PES. At some point soon we should add edu-sig on the SIG page as one of the currently active SIGs. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff: Thanks for spinning up this conversation. Great stuff. My intent is to volunteer to chair the Python Education Summit (PES) next year (based on Naomi's comments regarding stepping down). I don't know what the formal process is to make that official... Naomi... can you shed light on that? As everyone prolly already knows, that is not a task that can be done alone, so there should be plenty of opportunities for others to get their hands dirty. My guess/hope is that Jessica will want to help again this year. I captured a ton of notes and thoughts that I am putting to paper to outline 'the process' for next year's PES. Planned on putting that up on github as soon as I can. (I'm relocating right now, so free time is a luxury I don't have). Along with supporting the PES, I would love to support the types of efforts you are outlining here. Thanks again for firing up this conversation. chalmer Chalmer Lowe, MS http://projecteuler.net/profile/threelowelifes.png Level 1 On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:32 AM, Andre Roberge andre.robe...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? I have not maintained the page for quite a few years now. I changed computer twice in the meantime. Here's what I remember that I had to do. 1. contact someone on the web support team (pointing out, I think, to the relevant edu-sig discussion) I know you just asked about how to begin, but just in case you'd want to know, here were the next steps. 2. generate some ssh key (if I recall correctly) so that I would be allowed to commit changes 3. download the whole site (first time) or update it thereafter 4. (re)build it locally. 5. edit the relevant rst file 6. rebuild it(repeat 5 and 6 as needed) 7. commit changes 8. repeat steps 3 to 6 as needed (based on suggestions/requests received) Now, it could well be that, with the redesign, the process is much easier and can be done online using a CMS. 2. Is there anyone in this thread not on edu-sig? My next reply will go only to the list. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds like a plan. I would be happy to talk with Selena about the work to bridge the gap between k-12 educators and Python programmers. I was a k-12 teacher for 10 years (music) and I have been working in schools with my program to teach python coding to kids
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 7:02 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). Thanks for stepping up Jeff. We've not had an active web wrangler in awhile. I did it for awhile, then Andre, now you. Our heritage is CP4E in a lot of ways. 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). In one sense there's no gap: many teachers just need a working Python to teach whatever, and that has already been developed. If what you need to do is teach Python, there's nothing more you need than what's already freely available. In Oregon we now give math credit for programming courses and it doesn't have to be AP-anything (not just elective non-credit courses teach Python). That was a breakthrough I was lobbying for, and got. Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? Why not? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee Harr (cc'd here), the creator of the wonderful Pynguin environment (https://code.google.com/p/pynguin/) to join the list and the discussion. The more the merrier in my view. Kirby ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
What I'm hoping for is broader participation and on-going effort in promoting Python in education. It makes sense to coordinate this effort with the PES, which could serve as a yearly gathering of folks who have been working together throughout the year. This is a good time to do this, following Van Lindberg's announcement of the new, community PSF and the call for more folks to get involved in the community. I think we should do this through the edu-sig for the following reasons: 1. The edu-sig is the currently existing group within the official Python community whose focus is Python in education. 2. The goal of the PES is the same as the goal of the edu-sig - to support and promote Python's use in education. Thoughts? If there is general agreement, I'd like to propose that we ask Chalmer to be the coordinator of the edu-sig for the next year and that he take the lead in organizing the PES as his main task. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 11:27 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: As far as coordinating the PyCon Education Summit, I don't think there is a strong precedent for any connection between Edu-Sig and running the summit. In general, PyCon people are just that - PyCon organizing spots aren't tied officially to any other Python organizations they may well be on the PSF, the board, etc... but they certainly don't have to be, other than Ewa, who is officially board secretary and event coordinator. PyLadies events might be an exception, but otherwise I'm not thinking of any. Since I initially pitched the first summit to Edu-Sig to less than lukewarm support, I'm a little surprised now to hear the summit being proposed as the official event of Edu-Sig... not that I'm against it, particularly, but I do think committed individuals are often more effective at getting specific things done. :-) Still if that's what you all want to do, and it can be a catalyst to re-invigorate Edu-Sig and make it more representative of all kinds of Python education, I certainly wouldn't object. So my short answer is, there is no precedent, do what you think best. Cheers, Naomi On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: OK, I'm all set with the access I need to edit the edu-sig page. I plan to spend at least part of my time on May 31st (National Day of Civic Hacking) working on the web site. The bottom of our web page currently says: Send suggestions for changes to the edu-sig list., which is a good way to handle suggestions. Looking over the SIG page here: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/, I read: * Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. * SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. * Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. I don't think we have a edu-sig coordinator at present. Would this be something you would be interested in doing, Chalmer? Perhaps Naomi can shed some more light on the practice for the last two years since she started it, but it seems to me that a revived edu-sig would be the logical group to help coordinate the PES. At some point soon we should add edu-sig on the SIG page as one of the currently active SIGs. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff: Thanks for spinning up this conversation. Great stuff. My intent is to volunteer to chair the Python Education Summit (PES) next year (based on Naomi's comments regarding stepping down). I don't know what the formal process is to make that official... Naomi... can you shed light on that? As everyone prolly already knows, that is not a task that can be done alone, so there should be plenty of opportunities for others to get their hands dirty. My guess/hope is that Jessica will want to help again this year. I captured a ton of notes and thoughts that I am putting to paper to outline 'the process' for next year's PES. Planned on putting that up on github as soon as I can. (I'm relocating right now, so free time is a luxury I don't have). Along with supporting the PES, I would love to support the types of efforts you are outlining here. Thanks again for firing up this conversation. chalmer Chalmer Lowe, MS http://projecteuler.net/profile/threelowelifes.png Level 1 On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:32 AM, Andre Roberge andre.robe...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? I have not maintained the page for quite a few years now. I changed computer twice in the meantime. Here's what I remember that I had to do. 1. contact someone on the web support team (pointing out, I think, to the relevant edu-sig discussion) I know you just asked about
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
If Chalmers steps up for both, fine, but I agree with Naomi: We should not make this a precedent. There is a real question of what edu-sig coordinator would mean, past monitoring the listserv. As has been the case historically, there is always the question of how to get volunteer effort together for what. Andy On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 11:08 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: What I'm hoping for is broader participation and on-going effort in promoting Python in education. It makes sense to coordinate this effort with the PES, which could serve as a yearly gathering of folks who have been working together throughout the year. This is a good time to do this, following Van Lindberg's announcement of the new, community PSF and the call for more folks to get involved in the community. I think we should do this through the edu-sig for the following reasons: 1. The edu-sig is the currently existing group within the official Python community whose focus is Python in education. 2. The goal of the PES is the same as the goal of the edu-sig - to support and promote Python's use in education. Thoughts? If there is general agreement, I'd like to propose that we ask Chalmer to be the coordinator of the edu-sig for the next year and that he take the lead in organizing the PES as his main task. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 11:27 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: As far as coordinating the PyCon Education Summit, I don't think there is a strong precedent for any connection between Edu-Sig and running the summit. In general, PyCon people are just that - PyCon organizing spots aren't tied officially to any other Python organizations they may well be on the PSF, the board, etc... but they certainly don't have to be, other than Ewa, who is officially board secretary and event coordinator. PyLadies events might be an exception, but otherwise I'm not thinking of any. Since I initially pitched the first summit to Edu-Sig to less than lukewarm support, I'm a little surprised now to hear the summit being proposed as the official event of Edu-Sig... not that I'm against it, particularly, but I do think committed individuals are often more effective at getting specific things done. :-) Still if that's what you all want to do, and it can be a catalyst to re-invigorate Edu-Sig and make it more representative of all kinds of Python education, I certainly wouldn't object. So my short answer is, there is no precedent, do what you think best. Cheers, Naomi On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: OK, I'm all set with the access I need to edit the edu-sig page. I plan to spend at least part of my time on May 31st (National Day of Civic Hacking) working on the web site. The bottom of our web page currently says: Send suggestions for changes to the edu-sig list., which is a good way to handle suggestions. Looking over the SIG page here: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/, I read: * Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. * SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. * Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. I don't think we have a edu-sig coordinator at present. Would this be something you would be interested in doing, Chalmer? Perhaps Naomi can shed some more light on the practice for the last two years since she started it, but it seems to me that a revived edu-sig would be the logical group to help coordinate the PES. At some point soon we should add edu-sig on the SIG page as one of the currently active SIGs. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff: Thanks for spinning up this conversation. Great stuff. My intent is to volunteer to chair the Python Education Summit (PES) next year (based on Naomi's comments regarding stepping down). I don't know what the formal process is to make that official... Naomi... can you shed light on that? As everyone prolly already knows, that is not a task that can be done alone, so there should be plenty of opportunities for others to get their hands dirty. My guess/hope is that Jessica will want to help again this year. I captured a ton of notes and thoughts that I am putting to paper to outline 'the process' for next year's PES. Planned on putting that up on github as soon as I can. (I'm relocating right now, so free time is a luxury I don't have). Along with supporting the PES, I would love to support the types of efforts you are outlining here. Thanks again for firing up this conversation. chalmer Chalmer Lowe, MS http://projecteuler.net/profile/threelowelifes.png Level 1 On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:32
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Which has not been a problem at all. Think of the big involvement from the RIT folks in this year's PES. It's a meritocracy, after all. The volunteers who step forward determine what gets done. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:27 PM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Kirby, I agree, and think there definitely needs to be a focus on both college and community-based education outreach as well. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:26 PM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds good to me, as long as we're clear that promoting Python in education is in no way limited to K-12. I'm a full time teacher of Python to adults and like to think edu-sig is the right venue for my kind of chatter as well. So far, I've felt that way. K-12 is important and welcome, but not the whole show. Kirby On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 9:08 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: What I'm hoping for is broader participation and on-going effort in promoting Python in education. It makes sense to coordinate this effort with the PES, which could serve as a yearly gathering of folks who have been working together throughout the year. This is a good time to do this, following Van Lindberg's announcement of the new, community PSF and the call for more folks to get involved in the community. I think we should do this through the edu-sig for the following reasons: 1. The edu-sig is the currently existing group within the official Python community whose focus is Python in education. 2. The goal of the PES is the same as the goal of the edu-sig - to support and promote Python's use in education. Thoughts? If there is general agreement, I'd like to propose that we ask Chalmer to be the coordinator of the edu-sig for the next year and that he take the lead in organizing the PES as his main task. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 11:27 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: As far as coordinating the PyCon Education Summit, I don't think there is a strong precedent for any connection between Edu-Sig and running the summit. In general, PyCon people are just that - PyCon organizing spots aren't tied officially to any other Python organizations they may well be on the PSF, the board, etc... but they certainly don't have to be, other than Ewa, who is officially board secretary and event coordinator. PyLadies events might be an exception, but otherwise I'm not thinking of any. Since I initially pitched the first summit to Edu-Sig to less than lukewarm support, I'm a little surprised now to hear the summit being proposed as the official event of Edu-Sig... not that I'm against it, particularly, but I do think committed individuals are often more effective at getting specific things done. :-) Still if that's what you all want to do, and it can be a catalyst to re-invigorate Edu-Sig and make it more representative of all kinds of Python education, I certainly wouldn't object. So my short answer is, there is no precedent, do what you think best. Cheers, Naomi On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: OK, I'm all set with the access I need to edit the edu-sig page. I plan to spend at least part of my time on May 31st (National Day of Civic Hacking) working on the web site. The bottom of our web page currently says: Send suggestions for changes to the edu-sig list., which is a good way to handle suggestions. Looking over the SIG page here: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/, I read: * Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. * SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. * Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. I don't think we have a edu-sig coordinator at present. Would this be something you would be interested in doing, Chalmer? Perhaps Naomi can shed some more light on the practice for the last two years since she started it, but it seems to me that a revived edu-sig would be the logical group to help coordinate the PES. At some point soon we should add edu-sig on the SIG page as one of the currently active SIGs. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Jeff: Thanks for spinning up this conversation. Great stuff. My intent is to volunteer to chair the Python Education Summit (PES) next year (based on Naomi's comments regarding stepping down). I don't know what the formal process is to make that official... Naomi... can you shed light on that? As everyone prolly already knows, that is not a task that can be done alone, so there should be plenty of opportunities for others to get their hands dirty. My guess/hope is that Jessica will want to help again this year. I captured a ton of notes and
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
I agree, not a problem at all, to include a full spectrum of outreach / initiatives, to K-12 (or the equivalent in other namespaces / systems) and beyond. In terms of the website, I think the edu-sig home page is a good place to start: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig I notice when I'm at the maillist info page and click on edu-sig home page, prominent at the top, I do NOT actually go to the above page, but to a SIGs-in-general page: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig --- https://www.python.org/community/sigs This is clearly broken, and a test of our new administrative muscles would be to get that fixed, I would think. On the home page itself I find at least one dead end link, e.g. under Miscellaneous Software Carpentry http://swc.scipy.org/ by Greg Wilson is a course on software development skills for scientists and engineers. That's not working at all. Maybe it just moved? Kirby On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 6:43 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Which has not been a problem at all. Think of the big involvement from the RIT folks in this year's PES. It's a meritocracy, after all. The volunteers who step forward determine what gets done. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:27 PM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Kirby, I agree, and think there definitely needs to be a focus on both college and community-based education outreach as well. On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 4:26 PM, kirby urner kirby.ur...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds good to me, as long as we're clear that promoting Python in education is in no way limited to K-12. I'm a full time teacher of Python to adults and like to think edu-sig is the right venue for my kind of chatter as well. So far, I've felt that way. K-12 is important and welcome, but not the whole show. Kirby ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
What would be the next step? I think you are right, Naomi, that what I'm talking about is an EDU effort, whereas I imagine Education and Outreach is more about reaching out to the Business and IT communities to tell them about Python. Should we adding a Python in Education committee? One of the candidates for the PSF board (I didn't write down her name and I can't seem to find the bios on the wiki after voting) listed creating space on the website for teachers as one of her goals. That would be awesome. With the Open Educational Resource movement (OER) growing steadily, we really should have some place on our website where Python EDU resources could be stored. I'm not sure where to begin, but perhaps the website is as good a place as any. Who is maintaining this page: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig ? Can I offer to help? I've been a PSF member for years and years, but I haven't contributed much directly. I figured after the opening up of the PSF and Van Lindberg's call for all of us to get more involved the time to do that was now. On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:30 PM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: There is an already PSF Education and Outreach committee... I think that what you're thinking would be somewhat different than what they do, but that might be the place to start. Cheers, Naomi On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 10:26 PM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Jeff, I would be excited to be a part of that. On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Not sure exactly, but a group within the PSF that, among other things: 1. Works together to gather, share, and develop educational resources on python.org. 2. Plans next year's education summit. 3. Helps promote Python's use in education and coordinate activities around Python in edu. On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:15 PM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds great. What are you thinking? On May 21, 2014 4:47 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: First off, kudos to Naomi, Jessica, and Chalmer on putting together a thoroughly enjoyable EDU Summit at Pycon! I'm interested in following up from that with some on-going Python in Education work throughout the year, and with the changes in the PSF, that may be the way to go about it. How can we begin? Where do I sign up? Jeff Elkner -- Naomi Ceder https://plus.google.com/u/0/111396744045017339164/about ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
One point of info I can add - the person you're thinking of running for PSF board is Selena Deckelman, who was on Nate's panel at the edu summit. She's been very into bridging the gap between developers and K-12 teachers. Naomi ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:55 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: What would be the next step? I think you are right, Naomi, that what I'm talking about is an EDU effort, whereas I imagine Education and Outreach is more about reaching out to the Business and IT communities to tell them about Python. Should we adding a Python in Education committee? One of the candidates for the PSF board (I didn't write down her name and I can't seem to find the bios on the wiki after voting) listed creating space on the website for teachers as one of her goals. That would be awesome. With the Open Educational Resource movement (OER) growing steadily, we really should have some place on our website where Python EDU resources could be stored. I'm not sure where to begin, but perhaps the website is as good a place as any. Who is maintaining this page: https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig ? As far as I know, no one is maintaining it since I stopped doing so. I asked for volunteers to take over, which resulted in quite a few people offering to do so, put them in contact with people in charge of the website, saw a few emails back and forth ... and that's as far as it got. Perhaps the whole thing got lost in the site redesign, and now people in charge of the Python website would be more receptive to a volunteer stepping up ... André ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee Harr (cc'd here), the creator of the wonderful Pynguin environment (https://code.google.com/p/pynguin/) to join the list and the discussion. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: One point of info I can add - the person you're thinking of running for PSF board is Selena Deckelman, who was on Nate's panel at the edu summit. She's been very into bridging the gap between developers and K-12 teachers. Naomi ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? 2. Is there anyone in this thread not on edu-sig? My next reply will go only to the list. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds like a plan. I would be happy to talk with Selena about the work to bridge the gap between k-12 educators and Python programmers. I was a k-12 teacher for 10 years (music) and I have been working in schools with my program to teach python coding to kids for the past year and a half, so I do have some experience in that area. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee Harr (cc'd here), the creator of the wonderful Pynguin environment (https://code.google.com/p/pynguin/) to join the list and the discussion. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: One point of info I can add - the person you're thinking of running for PSF board is Selena Deckelman, who was on Nate's panel at the edu summit. She's been very into bridging the gap between developers and K-12 teachers. Naomi ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? I have not maintained the page for quite a few years now. I changed computer twice in the meantime. Here's what I remember that I had to do. 1. contact someone on the web support team (pointing out, I think, to the relevant edu-sig discussion) I know you just asked about how to begin, but just in case you'd want to know, here were the next steps. 2. generate some ssh key (if I recall correctly) so that I would be allowed to commit changes 3. download the whole site (first time) or update it thereafter 4. (re)build it locally. 5. edit the relevant rst file 6. rebuild it(repeat 5 and 6 as needed) 7. commit changes 8. repeat steps 3 to 6 as needed (based on suggestions/requests received) Now, it could well be that, with the redesign, the process is much easier and can be done online using a CMS. 2. Is there anyone in this thread not on edu-sig? My next reply will go only to the list. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds like a plan. I would be happy to talk with Selena about the work to bridge the gap between k-12 educators and Python programmers. I was a k-12 teacher for 10 years (music) and I have been working in schools with my program to teach python coding to kids for the past year and a half, so I do have some experience in that area. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee Harr (cc'd here), the creator of the wonderful Pynguin environment (https://code.google.com/p/pynguin/) to join the list and the discussion. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: One point of info I can add - the person you're thinking of running for PSF board is Selena Deckelman, who was on Nate's panel at the edu summit. She's been very into bridging the gap between developers and K-12 teachers. Naomi ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Great. Any chance someone could point me in the direction of someone on the web support team? I'll take it from there. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:32 AM, Andre Roberge andre.robe...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Two questions: 1. Andre, what do I need to do to begin maintaining that page? I have not maintained the page for quite a few years now. I changed computer twice in the meantime. Here's what I remember that I had to do. 1. contact someone on the web support team (pointing out, I think, to the relevant edu-sig discussion) I know you just asked about how to begin, but just in case you'd want to know, here were the next steps. 2. generate some ssh key (if I recall correctly) so that I would be allowed to commit changes 3. download the whole site (first time) or update it thereafter 4. (re)build it locally. 5. edit the relevant rst file 6. rebuild it(repeat 5 and 6 as needed) 7. commit changes 8. repeat steps 3 to 6 as needed (based on suggestions/requests received) Now, it could well be that, with the redesign, the process is much easier and can be done online using a CMS. 2. Is there anyone in this thread not on edu-sig? My next reply will go only to the list. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds like a plan. I would be happy to talk with Selena about the work to bridge the gap between k-12 educators and Python programmers. I was a k-12 teacher for 10 years (music) and I have been working in schools with my program to teach python coding to kids for the past year and a half, so I do have some experience in that area. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Great! So it seems we have two short term goals: 1. Get someone to agree to maintain the website (I'm volunteering if there isn't anyone else chomping at the bit to do it). 2. Reach out to Selena Deckelman to help her with her efforts to bridge the gap between developers and K-12 teachers (a noble goal indeed!). Do we agree that edu-sig is the sensible place to hold this conversation? If we do, can we ask Selena to join the list if she is not already there? I'll also encourage folks like Lee Harr (cc'd here), the creator of the wonderful Pynguin environment (https://code.google.com/p/pynguin/) to join the list and the discussion. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Naomi Ceder naomi.ce...@gmail.com wrote: One point of info I can add - the person you're thinking of running for PSF board is Selena Deckelman, who was on Nate's panel at the edu summit. She's been very into bridging the gap between developers and K-12 teachers. Naomi ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
There is an already PSF Education and Outreach committee... I think that what you're thinking would be somewhat different than what they do, but that might be the place to start. Cheers, Naomi On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 10:26 PM, Jessica Nickel jessanic...@gmail.comwrote: Hi Jeff, I would be excited to be a part of that. On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: Not sure exactly, but a group within the PSF that, among other things: 1. Works together to gather, share, and develop educational resources on python.org. 2. Plans next year's education summit. 3. Helps promote Python's use in education and coordinate activities around Python in edu. On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:15 PM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds great. What are you thinking? On May 21, 2014 4:47 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: First off, kudos to Naomi, Jessica, and Chalmer on putting together a thoroughly enjoyable EDU Summit at Pycon! I'm interested in following up from that with some on-going Python in Education work throughout the year, and with the changes in the PSF, that may be the way to go about it. How can we begin? Where do I sign up? Jeff Elkner -- Naomi Ceder https://plus.google.com/u/0/111396744045017339164/about ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
Re: [Edu-sig] Getting more involved with education and the PSF...
Not sure exactly, but a group within the PSF that, among other things: 1. Works together to gather, share, and develop educational resources on python.org. 2. Plans next year's education summit. 3. Helps promote Python's use in education and coordinate activities around Python in edu. On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:15 PM, Chalmer Lowe chalmer.l...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds great. What are you thinking? On May 21, 2014 4:47 PM, Jeff Elkner j...@elkner.net wrote: First off, kudos to Naomi, Jessica, and Chalmer on putting together a thoroughly enjoyable EDU Summit at Pycon! I'm interested in following up from that with some on-going Python in Education work throughout the year, and with the changes in the PSF, that may be the way to go about it. How can we begin? Where do I sign up? Jeff Elkner ___ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
