[Fwd: Re: Re: [seul-edu] Perl for 9th graders]]

[Doug Loss <dloss@suscom.net>]

owner-seul-edu@seul.org wrote:

> From: acidbase@netbank.com.br
> To: seul-edu@seul.org
> Subject: Re: Re: [seul-edu] Perl for 9th graders]
>
> >
> > I agree with this, too.  Perl and C are the two languages that I use most
> > frequently in my day to day work, but I wouldn't recommend either one as a
> > first introduction to programming.  This is the order in which I was
> > introduced to my first few programming languages, and it worked pretty well
> > for me:
> >
> > LOGO (wonderful for elementary students)
> > Pascal (Junior High, maybe High School)
> > C
> > C++ (If Java had been available, I think it would have been a better intro
> > to OO.)
> > LISP
> > ...(a couple of specialized languages)...
> > Perl
> > .
> > .
> > .
>
> Perfect order, maybe Python between LOGO and Pascal. My introduce in
> Computer Programming was LOGO (translated to Portuguese). I'm learn
> mathematics and geometry with LOGO.
>
> LOGO (in english)                 LOGO (in portuguese)
> repeat 4 [ foreward 10 left 90 ] (repita 4 [ frente 10 esquerda 90 ])
> d:)
>
> I'm fixing(?) the ucblogo, a LOGO interpreter for Linux/Win/MacOS, avaliable in:
> http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~bh
>
> But i'm starting this project only 2 weeks ago. Maybe I will start a
> LOGO interpreter in Python.
>
> > Sadly, LOGO and Pascal are sort of out of date now, especially on a Linux
> > system.  Maybe Python (with a "turtle graphics" module) and Ada would work
> > instead?
>
> "turtle graphics" module in Python is a *great idea*!
>
> > > > Students may be create a Frankenstein program only using PERL
> > > > too... And I discord about PERL has "best features of several
> > programming
> > > > languages", if this is correct, where is OOP support?
> >
> > Perl has an interesting and effective style of OO support, and learning OO
> > Perl can provide special insight into the way that OO works in general, but
> > I CERTAINLY wouldn't recommend it as a first OO language!  Its style is a
> > bit too free and open.  A beginner could learn a lot of bad habits very
> > easily.
>
> BASIC too... :/
>
> > > > > I've heard good things about python as a good, powerful first
> > language,
> > > > > and java would likely be a good choice as well, as in many ways it was
> > > > > written from scratch as an OOP language. Pascal is not exactly used in
> > > > > reality commonly, but is an excellent introduction to structured,
> > > > > function based programming.
> >
> > Python would be a good first language for students in seventh grade and up.
> > I haven't seen any good introductory programming texts with Python yet,
> > though.  The standard distribution's tutorial is pretty good for learning
> > the language, but probably not for learning programming in general.  I
> > haven't been looking for such a book though.  It may be out there.
> >
>
> Agreed.
>
> --
> Osvaldo
> acidbase@bigfoot.com
> Curitiba - PR - Brazil

--
Doug Loss                 God is a comedian playing
Data Network Coordinator  to an audience too afraid
Bloomsburg University     to laugh.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Voltaire