Re: Programming languages for the very young

From: Jerry Petrey (_at_raytheon.com)
Date: 01/27/04 

Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 15:21:01 -0700

John Doty wrote:

>
> Logo might actually be a better choice here. You can do "amazing things in
> real time" with it, but it's better insulated from the messy hardware
> details than Forth is. If you're concentrating on teaching the physics
> rather than the operation of the machine, I'd go with Logo.
>
> It's a real shame that Logo is seen as a language that's only for the very
> young. While it may be the easiest language to get started in, it's a
> pretty sophisticated language, interactive and good at encouraging
> well-factored code.
>
>

I would certainly agree with you on Logo. It is a great language for kids (or
even adults). I used to teach some introductory computer classes to kids in
the 8 - 11 years old range using Logo and they loved it and caught on fast.
Read the language inventor's fantastic book "Mindstorms" (by Seymour Papert)
for a fascinating analysis of computers in education, Logo, and the child
learning process.

Jerry 

--
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-- Jerry Petrey
-- Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Navigation (GPS/INS), Guidance, &
Control
-- Raytheon Missile Systems          - Member Team Ada & Team Forth
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