Its nose is
multicolored. Its body is gray. No, it’s not a duck. It’s a finch! The Finch
unit was a really good break from python unit after python unit. Groups got to
make the mechanical stingray looking thing with wheels ‘bird’ do tricks! Sure,
the thing was a sophisticated Japanese robot by any means; it was still fun
trying to make it turn around, restarting it when its nose stopped flashing rainbows and seeing how code translated into action. In short, finches are
a great supplementary tool. I guess the correct analogy would be jeroo is to
scratch as finches are to python. Well, sort of. As far as difficulty goes, I think finch
coding is a little bit easier than python. I especially enjoyed the group
component to this unit. Officially working together with a partner is much less
anxiety-inducing than independent work. Unfortunately the unit ended much too early
with the introduction of yet another python unit.
On the bright side, at
least the past several labs have all included strings. In other words, this
last python unit wasn’t completely brand new. Although I can’t say I’ve
mastered what the class has covered so far about strings (such as the concept
of adding strings together to form some sort of message such as in lab 07a), I don’t
feel entirely incapable. From this week’s labs I’ve noticed that I have yet to
fully understand how variables, input arguments, parameters and functions work
together as a cohesive unit. I get some parts like redefining variables but if
you were to ask me about how a parameter differs from an argument, well, I’m
not sure you would get a satisfactory answer. In any case, at least the last
two parts of lab seven were much less flustering. Did I mention how happy I am
to be in this class as opposed to the AP class?
If I were a model
student, I would be planning to study python during the break. Unfortunately,
the senioritis bug has bit me and now i've got a pretty ugly rash spreading across my motivation. However, I’m not going to lie. I certainly don’t
plan on studying python until my brain turns to mush and all my hair falls out.
I think I’m going to take it easy but still try to retain some of what we’ve
learned so I don’t come back feeling completely lost in the new unit. Aside
from python, chilling sounds nice. So does going to Houston to visit my college
and eating authentic Chinese food. Two whoops for the break! Hope yours is
fantastic as well.
