Teaching kids to program

[doodab]

I'm glad the penny seems to be dropping.

Has anyone here tried letting the little ones loose with Scratch? Are there any similar efforts I should check out?

[SueEllen]

You may as well dig your old BBC computer out from the attic/basement.

If they aren't fascinated by that then they aren't going to want to learn.

You may as well look at teachers resources

[Freamon]

You may as well dig your old BBC computer out from the attic/basement.

If they aren't fascinated by that then they aren't going to want to learn.

You may as well look at teachers resources

And:

Code Year

[stek]

Programming is for Bobs!!

[doodab]

Programming is for Bobs!!

As a profession, perhaps, but I think learning how to write programs has an intrinsic educational value and it's something all children should be exposed to, a bit like learning a foreign language.

[mudskipper]

Indeed. IT lessons don't go much further than adding up a column of numbers in Excel.

[doodab]

Indeed. IT lessons don't go much further than adding up a column of numbers in Excel.

Exactly. And that's a waste, because teaching programming can indirectly expose children to a lot of other concepts, all of which are useful things to have in their mental toolbox. Aside from encouraging logical reasoning about problems it might even make them better at maths and English, and it will tend to encourage their natural scientist as well.

[d000hg]

Although for that matter, teaching how to program macros in Excel isn't too terrible, and actually shows a real-world value to why even non programmers might find it useful.

[Cliphead]

Logo's been around for a long time, I remember a version for Amstrad's CP/M boxes. I believe it can even be used in browser these days.

[Freamon]

Logo's been around for a long time, I remember a version for Amstrad's CP/M boxes. I believe it can even be used in browser these days.

Yes!!!!!!!

Logo Interpreter