tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post3934918478537635812..comments2023-06-30T22:02:09.294+10:00Comments on Rambling Teacher's Blog: Every child should learn computer programmingRambling Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03004508814421590201noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-91984079212189025592012-07-09T04:26:46.546+10:002012-07-09T04:26:46.546+10:00With ProgrammingKit.com you get practice programmi...With ProgrammingKit.com you get practice programming a computer! Kids and adults can have fun moving the bug around and drawing different designs.<br /><br />Parents: Ask your child to have the robot bug walk in a pattern (square, triangle, etc). Use the grid to count the boxes. Ask your child to have the robot bug walk to a particular spot on the screen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-82673340330791874112011-11-03T06:38:25.349+11:002011-11-03T06:38:25.349+11:00Thanks for your valuable comments, Anonymous. A co...Thanks for your valuable comments, Anonymous. A colleague of mine has a friend teaches postgraduate Biology and who finds that he needs to spend time on teaching programming. He laments the fact that students get to that level before they're introduced to it.ramblingteacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286015628832482460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-19573305541555767472011-11-02T22:33:31.092+11:002011-11-02T22:33:31.092+11:00The analysis skills and problem solving skills are...The analysis skills and problem solving skills are very important... and programming gives students a setting in which they are more likely to develop important problem solving skills... with such programmes like SCRATCH (which are designed to help students learn programming) allowing students to be in charge of the creative process and to create something they want to create, the motivation for students to persist and explore possible solutions is MUCH greater than in other more traditional settings. <br /><br />When I was at school, programming was an 'elective' for those interested in computers where it was generally about copying a lot of code and not knowing if it worked or didn't work or why or why not. How different it is today with programs like Scratch and the simulators which allow instant feedback on what you have created... for the first time programming is now accessible to everyone and WHY shouldn't everyone learn a little bit of it?<br /><br />Also, it probably isn't stressed enough just how much basic programming is used in the sciences... where any modelling is done. A friend of mine who has lectured Graduate Courses at various Universities is always shocked with how little many of his students know about programming... and, all too much, how poor their logical problem solving skills are... perhaps these two deficiencies go hand in hand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-27954315240781782262011-10-26T21:31:00.820+11:002011-10-26T21:31:00.820+11:00I fully agree, Collin. I am happy that my daughter...I fully agree, Collin. I am happy that my daughter's school teaches programming from grade 4 level. I don't really know what environment they use since she's not there yet! Many primary schools use Scratch or Game Maker. The beauty of Scratch is that kids can tell stories and much research shows that many girls prefer that over writing games. Game Maker games can look more polished.ramblingteacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286015628832482460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-30275460306661429842011-10-26T21:19:05.524+11:002011-10-26T21:19:05.524+11:00rogramming does help develop thinking skills and l...rogramming does help develop thinking skills and like everything else, it should be nurtured at a young age. With multiple programming tools and resources available for children, I hope that it will happen. We can't wait until high school to have these kids know nothing about programming. Its not just the software development skills, but its also about developing analysis skills.<br /><br />I always believe that software developers, like musicians, have only creativity and lots of thinking skills at their disposal. I personally feel that these are 2 key elements necessary to change the world. Being both, I can personally tell you how it feels to have made someone's life better. Steve Jobs was right to say that programming is a liberal art.Collin Michael Nunishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535307848362551657noreply@blogger.com