Shoes got mentioned a while back in a Linux.com article entitled "Open
source programming languages for kids". Here's a snippet:
"Scratch, Alice, and Shoes are all open source, include support
channels such as forums or chatrooms, and have large, thriving
communities. These three environments are possibly the most open,
mature, and easily accessible environments that are geared toward
teaching programming concepts to young minds."
The full article is here: www.linux.com/feature/155203
Kyle
On May 19, 2009, at 4:10 PM, Seth Thomas Rasmussen wrote:
On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 8:14 AM, Sarah Allen <[email protected]>
wrote:
Why Shoes?
To quote a Railsbrige comment (
http://groups.google.com/group/railsbridge/msg/2c41610f8cc570b4?
hl=en )
Kids want to learn something that is:
A. Fun
B. Easy
Ok, maybe Ruby isn't so easy, but relative to a lot of modern
programming
languages it is pretty good. There is very little "boilerplate."
Programs
are fairly concise and to the point. I wouldn't touch Javascript
for kids
since the implementations are so inconsistent. Kids can deal with
rules
(they get that a lot) as long as they are clearly explained and
consistent.
Also, Ruby is a "real" programming language that real-world
programmers use
for practical purposes. It is effective to teach kids skills that
adults
use. When I did research for establishing the curriculum goals for
our
elementary school, I read a lot about "21st century learning
skills" where
kids learn to use computers and other tech as tools, in the similar
manner
to how adults use those tools (beyond using "educational software"
for
teaching specific subjects). I find from personal experience that
kids are
very motivated when they are learning something that could have
application
outside of the classroom.
Thanks for your perspective as a teacher. :) I think the "real" reason
is a very important one, too.
--
Seth Thomas Rasmussen
http://greatseth.com
