Comments on: All kids need to learn some programming http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/07/06/all-kids-need-to-learn-some-programming/ Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:41:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Devon Davison http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/07/06/all-kids-need-to-learn-some-programming/#comment-8046 Devon Davison Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:07:45 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=1146#comment-8046 This article was perfectly timed to fit into my contribution to a class discussion on, "should all students be tauht to program?" Thanks! This article was perfectly timed to fit into my contribution to a class discussion on, “should all students be tauht to program?” Thanks!

]]> By: Bethany http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/07/06/all-kids-need-to-learn-some-programming/#comment-6615 Bethany Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:02:57 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=1146#comment-6615 I find it interesting that I heard 2 Logo comments in the same day! At the NECC Keynote by Nicholas Negroponte he mentioned not only Logo, but the need for using programing to teach problem solving skills. Great minds think alike :) I find it interesting that I heard 2 Logo comments in the same day! At the NECC Keynote by Nicholas Negroponte he mentioned not only Logo, but the need for using programing to teach problem solving skills.

Great minds think alike :)

]]> By: Cheryl Oakes http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/07/06/all-kids-need-to-learn-some-programming/#comment-6574 Cheryl Oakes Fri, 07 Jul 2006 11:25:53 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=1146#comment-6574 This is so timely. At our district level technology committee a parent suggested we add programming back to our high school curriculum, instead of relying on the local community college to provide programming for interested individuals. I believe the local college should still provide the options for some of our students and I also agree that K-12 we should integrate programming language at all levels. In my computer lab I use a couple web based options with students and the excitement is palpable! Anyone can go to National Virtual Math Manipulatives for a great introduction. Go to the Geometry page and search alphabetically for Ladybug Leaf and Ladybug Mazes. My student begin using these in grade 2. http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_3.html There are other programming intros within this site as well. Enjoy! For my 4th graders, I introduce the Block Corner which is more programming lanugage and they are challenged, frustrated and then delighted when they crack the code! http://www.blockcorner.com/ Also, with students working on blogs at think.com my students are constantly searching for "codes" to add backgrounds to their sites and have learned to customize at whim! When my students ask the how to questions, I am turning it around and asking them where they saw the background they liked and to ask that person to teach them. Programming and collaboration at the core. I hope others share great programming sites for elementary students. Rock on! Cheryl Oakes This is so timely. At our district level technology committee a parent suggested we add programming back to our high school curriculum, instead of relying on the local community college to provide programming for interested individuals. I believe the local college should still provide the options for some of our students and I also agree that K-12 we should integrate programming language at all levels.
In my computer lab I use a couple web based options with students and the excitement is palpable! Anyone can go to National Virtual Math Manipulatives for a great introduction.
Go to the Geometry page and search alphabetically for Ladybug Leaf and Ladybug Mazes. My student begin using these in grade 2. http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_3.html
There are other programming intros within this site as well. Enjoy!
For my 4th graders, I introduce the Block Corner which is more programming lanugage and they are challenged, frustrated and then delighted when they crack the code!
http://www.blockcorner.com/
Also, with students working on blogs at think.com my students are constantly searching for “codes” to add backgrounds to their sites and have learned to customize at whim! When my students ask the how to questions, I am turning it around and asking them where they saw the background they liked and to ask that person to teach them. Programming and collaboration at the core. I hope others share great programming sites for elementary students. Rock on!
Cheryl Oakes

]]> By: Robert http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/07/06/all-kids-need-to-learn-some-programming/#comment-6523 Robert Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:36:39 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=1146#comment-6523 I've been thinking somewhat along these same lines, on the higher education level. Specifically, I'm becoming more and more convinced as a mathematics professor that computer programming ought to be an integral (pardon the pun) part of all mathematics classes. You just really don't understand a mathematical process fully until you try to make a computer do it. On the K-12 level, I wonder if the traditional way we offer mathematics courses really works any more, and if we ought to some how reorder the material that's taught on those levels and integrate the math with computer programming. Young kids are remarkably adept at picking up abstract concepts -- including foreign languages -- so why not computer languages? So Wes, the obvious questions: When would you propose introducing programming in the K-12 curriculum, and is there a language currently in existience that would work well at that level? (I'm personally shooting for using Python with my daughter once she turns 4. :) ) I’ve been thinking somewhat along these same lines, on the higher education level. Specifically, I’m becoming more and more convinced as a mathematics professor that computer programming ought to be an integral (pardon the pun) part of all mathematics classes. You just really don’t understand a mathematical process fully until you try to make a computer do it.

On the K-12 level, I wonder if the traditional way we offer mathematics courses really works any more, and if we ought to some how reorder the material that’s taught on those levels and integrate the math with computer programming. Young kids are remarkably adept at picking up abstract concepts — including foreign languages — so why not computer languages?

So Wes, the obvious questions: When would you propose introducing programming in the K-12 curriculum, and is there a language currently in existience that would work well at that level? (I’m personally shooting for using Python with my daughter once she turns 4. :) )

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