> > My personal wish is that children got more lessons in "how to think" > than in "what to think". > > In this case I think that programming may be a boon... Critical > thinking > is woefully misrepresented in American cirricula. Programming can > encompass a good portion of those critical thinking skills that are so > lacking today.
Excellent point. I haven't taught for so long that I forgot about this benefit. In reality, you are teaching problem-solving, how to organize and think -- a programming language is just a tool to help you do this. > I think with CF you have the potential to teach the concepts without > the > language getting in the way. Java may be a more useful stepping stone, > but remember that most computer classes in grade school/high school are > 45 minutes less than three time a week - an easy to pick up language > that supports the concepts (CF, Python, perhaps even TCL or Pascal but > I > really don't think Java) would be, I think, better. > > CF also has the benefit of immediate fruit. You can "get your page up" > very quickly and that sense of accomplishment is a large part of the > learning process. > > There's also a sense of familiarity as we might assume that all kids in > such a course are at least conversant with the web in general. > Well said! Dick ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com
