1. Astronomy Outreach using Python Marc Berthoud, Vivian Hoette Yerkes Observatory

5. Outline  Why teach programming  Why use python  The Yerkes python K-12 activities  Experience with teachers and students  Results  Future development

6. Why teach Programming  It's FUN  Programming teaches essential science and engineering skills:  Project design and management  Analysis and problem solving  Math, Physics, Computer Skills  You can illustrate (simulate) natural processes in great detail for science education.  Is NOT "a program": It is PROGRAMING ! You can create your own program that does anything you want it to.  It's FUN  Programming teaches essential science and engineering skills:  Project design and management  Analysis and problem solving  Math, Physics, Computer Skills  You can illustrate (simulate) natural processes in great detail for science education.  Is NOT "a program": It is PROGRAMING ! You can create your own program that does anything you want it to.

7.  Is a high level programming language  Has simple syntax and is easy to learn  Is open-source, has a wide user base (Among the top 5 programming languages worldwide)  Is being used for Science (StSci, ISAC), Engineering (Honywell), Web Application (Moin Wiki), Business (Rackspace), Entertainment (Industrial Light & Magic)  Runs on: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPod, PalmOS, Playstation  Has extensions for: graphs, plots, image and sound manipulation, scientific computation, internet access (facebook), accessing hardware...

8. Why use Python  Python is a simple but powerful and flexible language  It is easy-to-use and has all the features and constructs of other advanced languages (C++, Java).  Learning python IS learning a new language. But this language is LOGICAL and SIMPLE (You can start after learning ~10 words and ~5 rules)  It's like learning Dutch, not Chinese: you know the alphabet, much of the grammar and the most important words (Python is more widely spoken than Dutch ).  Python is FREE and platform independent: your students can download it at home.

9. Python Examples: Diffraction Pattern

10. The Yerkes Python TWiki http://bussard.yerkes.uchicago.edu/Outreach/ActivityPython

11. Sample Activities: Ball and Gas

12. Past Yerkes Activites  YAAYS:  Development of activities with Yaays teachers  Teach programming to 5-8th graders from Milton and Delevan at George Williams  Python session organized by Dawn Sammons at her school  Yerkes - SOFIA  Several sessions at Yerkes with local students  Activities are short, intensive (not a comprehensive programming class)  YAAYS:  Development of activities with Yaays teachers  Teach programming to 5-8th graders from Milton and Delevan at George Williams  Python session organized by Dawn Sammons at her school  Yerkes - SOFIA  Several sessions at Yerkes with local students  Activities are short, intensive (not a comprehensive programming class)

16. Feedback / Findings  Feedback: “This is Cool!”  Programming is very frustrating and also rewarding  Teachers and Students learned a lot  Variables for 5th graders  It’s a bit like Magic (it doesn’t always work)  It’s a very HANDS-ON activity  Students experiment, help each other, find their own ways  Connect learned theory with something real to play with  Emphasize basic concepts:  The computer is stupid and does PRECISELY what it is told  Every quote and dot counts  Print out instructions (avoids Ctrl-C Ctrl-V)  Instructor preparation is crucial: not only going through the material but also testing the installations  Feedback: “This is Cool!”  Programming is very frustrating and also rewarding  Teachers and Students learned a lot  Variables for 5th graders  It’s a bit like Magic (it doesn’t always work)  It’s a very HANDS-ON activity  Students experiment, help each other, find their own ways  Connect learned theory with something real to play with  Emphasize basic concepts:  The computer is stupid and does PRECISELY what it is told  Every quote and dot counts  Print out instructions (avoids Ctrl-C Ctrl-V)  Instructor preparation is crucial: not only going through the material but also testing the installations

17. Next Steps  Make our activities accessible to more teachers  Improve teacher instructions and support  Expand and improve our activities  Provide continuous support for these activities at Yerkes  Investigate integration of programming in regular classroom activities  Make our activities accessible to more teachers  Improve teacher instructions and support  Expand and improve our activities  Provide continuous support for these activities at Yerkes  Investigate integration of programming in regular classroom activities

18. Ideas for Future Activities  Astronomy: HR diagram, Impact Cratering Simulation, Image cleaning and presentation  Computer Science: web programming, object oriented programming, image manipulation  Simulations: optics, mechanical systems, electronic circuit, traffic patterns  Math: fractals, sequences, numbers and algorithms  Data analysis: astronomical images, time series and statistics, model fitting, Earth surface data  Chemistry / Biology: simulate chemical reactions, game of life