A Just-in-Time Introduction to Python
Copyright © 2008 SQI Inc.
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This book is dedicated to Joe Elcano, an educator with the Washow County School District. He was the first educator that I hear expounding the virtues of just-in-time vs just-in-case approach to educations. This shared view of how to approach education in a world generation new knowledge at an ever increasing rate proved to be very motivating for me.
Core Principles
This book is driven by the core principles of the KESE project and SQI microPublishing.
KESE Principles
The Knowledges and Economics Simulation Engine (KESE) project promotes these core values:
You learn by doing. You learn most efficiently by involved participation and least effectively be being lectured to or reading thousands of page. A dull economics book is inefficient in transferring knowledge about how risk and return works in a capitalist system when compared to Rail Road Tycoon. No supply / demand graphs just the feedback of success and failure as the kids try different strategies. And, as opposed to the treading the next chapter in the economics book, they can't wait to get another try.
The KESE project in committed to providing an ecosystem for learning about economics and the value of knowledge through simulations.
Just-inTime Learning. It is our view knowledge acquired an applied immediately is the most efficient and lasting form of learning. This Python tutorial is a structured just-in-time learning environment. The structure is generated by the Python code used in each section of the Go West simulation. As a new programming concept is used the Python formalization will be covered here.
Modeling real scenarios in detail provides richer game themes and creates player knowledge that directly transfers to the real world.
Technology accessible by everyone. The founders of SQI and the KESE project are deeply disturbed by the "digital divide" in our society and by the hi-tech communities indifference to this issue. The KESE project address this by a commitment to Open Source.
Every technology in the KESE simulation tool chain is open source and cross platform. This mean access to the technology is free and will run on Windows, Mac and Linux systems.
SQI Principles
Commitment to Instant Publishing. This book is a working example of the SQI microPublishing philosophy of instant publishing. This book is a work-in-progress. All of the material is in draft form (some in rough draft form). Some of the sections have example code with little of the description provided. Some sections have notes that need to be expanded to full text at some point in the future. However, all of the material fulfills the SQI microPublishing concept that any insight or new knowledge has value and needs to be quickly shared into the community of interest.
Why Read This Book
First, you don't. This is not a book you read.
This Python Tutorial for the Go West simulation is a guide and working companion for kids, young adults, and learning facilitators interested in acquiring Python programming skills.
![[Note]](/wiki/docbook/images/note.png) | Note Authors Add. The document structure is here: Document Settings |
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