Digital CS1 study pack based on Moodle and Python

ABSTRACT

We believe that CS1 courses can be made more attractive to students:

• by teaching a highly interactive scripting language - Python
• by using an open source course management system - such as Moodle - to make all course resources available in a comprehensive digital study pack, and
• by offering detailed self-guided online labs

.

We have used Moodle [1] and Python [2] to develop a "Python First" digital study pack [3] which comprises a wealth of new, original learning modules: extensive e-texts, detailed self-guided labs, numerous sample programs, quizzes, and slides. Our digital study pack pedagogy is described in recent ITiCSE and SIGCSE papers [4, 5]. "Python First" digital packs instances have already been adopted by instructors at several universities. This demonstration reveals instructor and student perspectives to the "Python First" digital pack. In particular, we demonstrate how instructors can use standard Moodle functionality to customize and manage digital packs. We also demonstrate several Moodle-supported, Python-based self-guided labs.

REFERENCES

• 1: Moodle. http://www.moodle.org.
• 2: Python. http://www.python.org.
• 3: Radenski, A. Introduction to Computing with Python. http://www.studypack.com.
• 4: Atanas Radenski, "Python first": a lab-based digital introduction to computer science, Proceedings of the 11th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education, June 26-28, 2006, Bologna, Italy
• 5: Atanas Radenski, Digital support for abductive learning in introductory computing courses, Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, March 07-11, 2007, Covington, Kentucky, USA

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
Moodle, Python, active learning, course management system