cholderby Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/technology/for-an-edge-on-the-internet-computer-code-gains-a-following.html According to the above article, programming is such a part of modern life that everyone needs to know how. As it happens, I am a programmer and now I'm wondering when to introduce programming. What curricula is out there now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 I haven't used any of this, but these are on a list I'd made about this subject: https://www.dreamspark.com/ The following are supposed to be easy for kids to use to learn programming and are FREE: - ALICE - SCRATCH - for younger kids, I think around 7-8 Both of these were recommended to me by a guy who teaches Computer Programming to kids, and I believe they were developed at a University. Also, I remember looking at something called "ROBO". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaneale Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Also check out this great free tutorial: . “Learning HTML for Kids” http://www.goodellgroup.com/tutorial/ We've used both Alice and Scratch with great success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaneale Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Oh yes... Khan Academy has a computer programming playlist as well (http://www.khanacademy.org), and another site to check out would be http://www.codeacademy.com. We haven't explored this second one yet, but it was recommended to me by a trusted source. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissySC Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 I am a programmar too. I started the girls at age 12 with Alice and Scratch. I stress the logic heavily, as well as the syntax. Both types of thinking carry over into math and grammar structure. I see them as not only introductions for computers and the language of computers but a way to teach thinking and approach structure as a whole. I blogged quite a number of resources. I start teaching microcomputer applications early too. I teach qwerty keyboard as well. By the time the girls reach highschool, they are exposed to document processing, spreadsheets, slideshows, etc. I do it in little bits. They tend to take on projects from their books and adapt them to something virtual. So, to directly answer your question - now. :) You don't have to make them like us - they don't have to know .net languages and understand class objects, nor do they have to care about decompiling or relational databases. They just need to not be afraid and feel as if they can take it on and run without any fear or hesitation. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 According to the above article, programming is such a part of modern life that everyone needs to know how. As it happens, I am a programmer and now I'm wondering when to introduce programming.What curricula is out there now? Your 7 yo could definitely get started with Scratch — my DD started playing around with it at 6. Even your 4 yo might be able to get in on it. Alice is also really good, but I think Scratch is a little easier/more intuitive for younger kids. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 My DD has been teaching herself Scratch (with a little help from DH) since she was 5, and recently added Storytelling Alice. She's made some nice little games and lots of little projects of animated characters dancing :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy-hs Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 My 8yo wants to be a computer programmer. I don't know if that dream will become a reality for him someday, but I want to encourage his interest in programming. He uses KidCoder (www.homeschoolprogramming.com) It's geared towards upper elementary and junior high (4th-8th I think). He loves it and is blowing through the program. I wish we would have started him last year when he first asked about it. Melissa :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 My son has worked on Small Basic and Scratch. He LOVES Scratch, he'd do it all day long if I let him. He did check out Alice as well, but it didn't float his boat for some reason. (I think it was more making animations than games or activities.) I will have to have him check out some of the other options you've all mentioned. He'd probably love them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 My older 2 have self-taught scratch...though I created a few educational exercises for my own purposes. My youngest says he knows a bit. Then they really delved into NXT via First Lego League. Now ds11 is doing the high school course from Homeschool Programming...I think it's C sharp? I will get ds programming in C for the NXT once he finishes and maybe have him learn some Java next year. AOPS is offering some programming courses as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Ds is working in Scratch and NXT. He has asked to learn C, but I don't know where to direct him since I know exactly zero about programming. Any ideas on learning C for a younger kid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NittanyJen Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 KidCoder and Teencoder start with Visual Basic, but progress into C++. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgrubbs Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 This is a hot topic at my house - I want DH to be in charge of it but since he has about a million other things to do we haven't gotten very far. When you say SCRATCH do you mean this website: http://scratch.mit.edu/ Do I just create a login and let my kids go? will it explain, teach, etc.? I don't have the time or inclination to learn anything else.:tongue_smilie: (Sorry, that was just really honest!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 This is a hot topic at my house - I want DH to be in charge of it but since he has about a million other things to do we haven't gotten very far. When you say SCRATCH do you mean this website: http://scratch.mit.edu/ Do I just create a login and let my kids go? will it explain, teach, etc.? I don't have the time or inclination to learn anything else.:tongue_smilie: (Sorry, that was just really honest!) Yes, that's the Scratch we're talking about. It seems pretty self explanatory. DH is in charge of it here too... he has a computer engineering degree, for which I'm thankful on a daily basis!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgrubbs Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) Yes, that's the Scratch we're talking about. It seems pretty self explanatory. DH is in charge of it here too... he has a computer engineering degree, for which I'm thankful on a daily basis!! :D Can your DH be in charge of it for my house too??? hee,hee Edited March 29, 2012 by cjgrubbs forgot something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Can your DH be in charge of it for my house too??? hee,hee Sure... he doesn't really have anything else to do. :lol: Oh wait... except for his job... all those unfinished projects around our house... Never mind. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HejKatt Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) Ds is working in Scratch and NXT. He has asked to learn C, but I don't know where to direct him since I know exactly zero about programming. Any ideas on learning C for a younger kid? This book used to be a standard text for learning C. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_C_Programming_Language However, it may need to be updated. I usually search for "<language> tutorial", Google returns quite a few links to free tutorials. Is there a reason for picking C vs Java (or other language)? C is powerful, but it can be tricky (when pointers get into the picture). Edited March 29, 2012 by leeyeewah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) We are not doing this yet; however, DH and I discussed teaching DS Pascal as an introductory language. Edited March 29, 2012 by Heathermomster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deniseibase Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 and another site to check out would be http://www.codeacademy.com. We haven't explored this second one yet, but it was recommended to me by a trusted source. I'm not a programmer, but I've had a couple programming classes, and I took 4 semesters of logic in college, so I understand the underlying concepts of computer language. I've completed the first course on the codeacademy site, Getting Started with Programming. It's not bad, but you will probably want something else for reference because the explanations are a little terse - they tell you JUST enough to be able to 'follow the recipe' and complete their exercises, but it's hard to understand the whys and wherefores, at least in that first course. Presumably there will be more explained later, but if your DC likes to understand what they are doing from the beginning, you'll want another reference too. It DOES look like a good site, very easy to use, and constantly being updated (it's VERY new, about 6 months, so there is still LOTS they are adding). My DD is using it and enjoying it, but it's a little frustrating to not know WHY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tristangrace Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 My kids' godfather, a brilliant techie, is taking my 10yo and 7yo through the book Hello, World! by Warren Sande. http://www.amazon.com/Hello-World-Computer-Programming-Beginners/dp/1933988495/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333029747&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.