[plt-scheme] Re: HTDP - evidently not for everyone.

On Feb 12, 4:11 pm, Thomas Holubar <sch... at phirho.com> wrote:
> On 12.02.2010 14:42, wooks wrote:
>
> > I don't know if you read my earlier posts. I'm satisfied I have posted
> > enough to claim to have tried all that. I've lost count of the number
> > of times I have said and shown how much of a program can be written
> > just from knowing the data structure. I have repeated whole lectures
> > when it is evident they have not grasped an important point.
>
> > Let me repeat the essence of what I am seeing.
>
> > My students understand sufficiently what is shown in class but cannot
> > translate that to the  writing a program (or even a template)
> > unaided.  They also cannot cope with a task that is only a slight
> > variation from what they have seen and understood in class - like for
> > example write count list after being shown and understood how to write
> > sum list.
>
> You should distinguish between a passive and an active
> ability/understanding. They are definitely not the same.
>
> In natural languages the passive ability is: "I understand what you're
> saying." Active would be "I can express what I want to say."
>
> I'd translate this to your programming class case like:
> Passive: The students understand what you're showing/explaining them.
> Active: The students are able to show/explain/reproduce it themselves.
>

We formed a human list in class. Each member was allocated a number.

I asked them who is (first human-list). They told me.
I asked them which bit is (rest human-list). They showed me.
I asked them what is the value of (first human-list). They told me.
I asked them when (first human-list) is being added to (sum (rest
human-list)) what value is being passed from (sum (rest human-list)).
They told me.

I moved my way down the human list. At every stage they told me what
constituted (rest human-list) and what the value of (sum (rest human-
list)) was.

Is that active enough.