4Real Forums: Computer programming

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Topic: Computer programming

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sunny
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Joined: Feb 10 2008
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Posted: Feb 19 2012 at 10:32pm \| IP Logged

I get a weekly email from GreatSchools. Overall, I don't think much of it but a recent article made me pause. It suggested the need for American schools to include more computer programming. I am wondering if any you include this. Also I think they were suggesting it particularly for the high school level but I am wondering why not include it at a much younger level? I certainly am not at a level to teach this without a written curriculum but maybe there is such a thing? any thoughts, ladies?

JodieLyn
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Posted: Feb 19 2012 at 10:57pm \| IP Logged

I would think it depends on what they mean by computer programming. If you mean things like doing web pages (html) or such, or learning to use programs like excel or power point or some word processing program and the like. Yes it would probably be quite beneficial. And those things have all sorts of classes for free in various places.

As far as writing actual computer programs.. that I would be less inclined to do unless they're wanting to try it. For one thing, the computer industry has been downsizing so getting jobs that way isn't as likely and computers change fast.. somemthing learned in gradeschool could well be obsolete by the end of high school so other than learning a process you may not be gaining anything by learning it sooner.

Again I'm not talking about someone that is interested in particular. Just that most people will use programs written by others, not write their own.

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ShannonJ
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Posted: Feb 20 2012 at 7:43am \| IP Logged

In grade school I think that introduction to a variety of computer programs is sufficient. There are several courses that can be taken online for programming (html, C++, etc) if interest continues past basic computer knowledge.
My brothers are both Linux-based program developers. They both highly tout the abilities of a linux based system over other platforms for flexibilty in program development. They were pretty much self-taught, as I know that my mom didn't teach them programming!

They went to college for computer engineering and computer programming, but I think it is fairly common for an interest in programming to come from just "dabbling" in their free time.
I do have to say that it is nice to say "Oh, I would love to have a program that did xxxxx." And have one of them work on it. Alas, since they are now grown and moved off to their own jobs they no longer have to the time to work on my whims.

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imcatholic
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Posted: March 02 2012 at 3:06pm \| IP Logged

I would like to recommend gamemaker - it's a fun program that lets the kids make their own games. It can be as basic or complex as they want. Unity is more involved but along the same lines. With 4 boys we started using the Mindstorm Robot and have progressed into gamemaker and then into unity. We are blessed to have a college guy who teaches programming to the boys as a private tutor and he teaches at a local kids science museum (he is the mentor for their first lego league team). Another thing we used was sketchup - it is a free 3d modeling program. It is very comparable to what professional cad programs would be. If they like to do graphic design you could also download inkscape. Inkscape is more like corel draw.

All these are free - some have "pro" versions available. We just let our 11 yo purchase the pro version of gamemaker.

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