[Fwd: Re: [seul-edu] Ruby (was: Language for 10 yo)]

[Doug Loss <dloss@suscom.net>]

owner-seul-edu@seul.org wrote:

> From: Leon Brooks <leonb@brooks.fdns.net>
> To: seul-edu@seul.org
> Subject: Re: [seul-edu] Ruby (was: Language for 10 yo)
>
> Manuel Gutierrez Algaba wrote:
>
> > At 02:42 p.m. 10/07/01 -0400, you wrote:
> >> Manuel Gutierrez Algaba wrote:
> >>> I personally *loath* any visual programming language, and much
>
> >>> more the so-called the graphical languages,
>
> Like LOGO?
>
> >> I don't completely disagree with you, Manuel, but remember that
>
> >> we're talking about 10 year olds here.
>
> Also known as ``the ones who can reprogram the video player even though
> you can't?'' (-:
>
> >> It might be a pretty good idea to let them make a graphical
>
> >> representation of the program and then attach actions and
> >> data to the various elements.
>
> Have it both ways. Teach them Ruby, which is relatively simple and
> flexible, and object-centred, but start them off with a GUI.
>
> > And yes, the easiest they get things, the dumber they're. Maybe
>
> > in the next thirty years we'll experience university students
>
> > that can't barely read...
>
> Available now in quantity.
>
> > If it's too easy they'll forget it easily, if it's a bit hard
>
> > they'll learn.
>
> That doesn't make (say) VB any good, even though it gets exponentially
> harder as you go along. (-:
>
> However, I do agree that if there's no pain, there's often no gain.
>
> Also, different people learn differently. The visual approach works
> better for some, chicken tracks work better for others. Some will leap
> into PERL like a dog into a sausage factory, and others will never get
> it... but maybe elope with LISP or (flinch) APL.
>
> The important thing is to have a useable variety available, with
> documentation and (most important) working and useful examples. You want
> to plan those working examples fairly carefully, since they might morph
> into an office suite or city-wide traffic controller if they fell into
> the ``wrong'' hands...
>
> Cheers




--
Doug Loss                 Always do right.  This
Data Network Coordinator  will gratify some people
Bloomsburg University     and astonish the rest.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Mark Twain