I would consider _javascript_.
It permits students to learn the 3 constructs plus the use of variables and modularisation. It is available to do at home and at school so seamless working between home and school and is highly relevant in all sorts of ways.
Do you have Moodle?
I have a _javascript_ course that you could use. It could be improved by having some screen casts but the course structure is sound for learning the basics of programming
A nearly current version is at
http://www.watiwara.org/mdl1/
It is called Website Programming 1.
I see this leading into PHP which again is very accessible.
You might also like to have a look at LiveLAMP as a way of easily having a webserver on the LAN for students to play with
http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/LiveLAMP-5902.shtml
Peter
2008/9/1 David M. Bucknell
<dbucknell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Colleagues,
I have two questions from a reluctant-Linux computing teacher:
1. With what should he introduce computing (in a Linux lab)?
- He would like experienced-based suggestions for teaching lower and middle secondary introductions to programming. Apparently, he used visual basic before. He knows of Pascal. Perhaps that's the best direction then?
2. how can he teach C to secondary-level students on Linux?
He is looking for
a) an environment suggestion
b) suggestions for on-line and offline materials
c) good sites
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience in these areas.
Sincerely,
David
P.S. Here are some preliminary resources I've found:
An Introduction to Programming Using C:
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~wjk/c++intro/
Introduction to Programming Using Java:
http://www.faqs.org/docs/javap/
Introduction to Programming on Linux:
http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=12484
Introduction to Programming with Python and TKinter
http://wiki.python.org/moin/Intro_to_programming_with_Python_and_Tkinter
MiniLesson: An Introduction to Linux in 10 Commands:
http://librenix.com/?inode=4052
Bash Shell Programming in Linux:
http://www.arachnoid.com/linux/shell_programming.html
Introduction to Programming in C/C++ with Vim:
http://www.justlinux.com/nhf/Programming/Introduction_to_C_Programming.html--
An Introduction to the Linux Command Line:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/an-introduction-to-the-linux-command-line/
Developing Web 2.0 Apps with the Google Web Toolkit:
http://linoleum.leapster.org/
CS510: An Introduction to Programming Using C:
http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/Intranet_subweb/Postgrad/ACS-CS/webpages/syllabus/cs/CS510.php
C and C++
http://www.luv.asn.au/overheads/prog/c.html
Introduction to Perl Programming:
http://www.euler.com/publiccourses/programming/intro_perl_programming.php
An Introduction to Ruby:
http://www.hosting-review.com/hosting-articles/ruby.shtml
Introduction to Programming:
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en/books/developers-handbook/tools-programming.html
Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years:
http://norvig.com/21-days.html
A Byte of Python:
http://www.swaroopch.com/byteofpython/
http://www.ibiblio.org/swaroopch/byteofpython/read/
Irie Pascal Details:
http://www.irietools.com/iriepascal/
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