1. Computer Programming for Everybody Jeffrey Elkner Presentation @ National Science Foundation May 11, 2004 A Teacher's Journey into Free Software, Computer Literacy, and Python

2. Computer Programming for Everybody ● Computing devices and computer use is ubiquitous ● An understanding of what they are and what they can do is empowering ● High level languages make programming accessible ● Wide spread knowledge of programming could change the way people interact with computers

3. 3 Compontents of Guido's Proposal ● Develop a new computing curriculum suitable for high school and college students. ● Create better, easier to use tools for program development and analysis. ● Build a user community around all of the above, encouraging feedback and self- help.

4. CP4E was never fully funded, but the project proceeded anyway...

5. ● Active edu-sig@python.org mailing listedu-sig@python.org ● Taught in a growing number of Colleges and High Schools ● Several introductory texts using Python ● Better tools and teaching materials Where is CP4E Today?

6. Without any funding... How did they do it?

7. ● Python is Free Software – anybody can look at it – anybody can contribute ● The Python community – a friendly, open environment – a collaborative space ● The Internet and the World Wide Web How we did it: CP4E on a shoestring...

8. ● The program can be run for any purpose (freedom 0) ● The program can be studied and adapted to your needs (freedom 1) ● Copies of the program can be redistributed to help your neighbor (freedom 2) ● You can improve the program and release your improvements, so the whole community benefits (freedom 3) It is Free Software if...

9. And this matters because?

10. You need to be well read to read well... Rosanne Rocchino, 10 th grade English teacher

11. Developing a new curriculum : Guido van Robot (GvR)

12. What is GvR? ● A programming language ● An educational tool ● A free software development project

13. GvR Features ● A “Pythonic” Karel the Robot ● Only five instructions ● No variables ● Easy to read ● Visual run-time environment

14. GvR in the Classroom

15. What does it look like? Let's pause here to see Guido in operation...

16. What do students learn? ● Sequencing ● Conditional branching ● Looping ● Procedural abstraction

17. How do they like it? "Guido v. Robot is a great program for computer science classes. By working with Guido I learned about looping, conditional branching, sequencing and other terms that I was not familiar with before. I really enjoyed working with this program because it was a "mind teaser". The tasks we had to create for Guido were complicated and got harder each day. The time it took to complete a lesson increased with each new topic." Blaine Hitt

18. GvR as a Path to Python ● Free intro programming tool ● Pythonic syntax ● Python references in lessons

19. Future Goals ● More teachers using GvR (GvR community) ● GUI world builder ● More lessons (including advanced applications)

20. Now, just imagine what we could accomplish with a bit of funding...