Comments on: Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 15:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Matt Harrison http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1612611 Matt Harrison Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1612611 I've taught 3rd-6th graders programming in Python, and they've had a good time. It is basically a matter of getting them to think logically (which can be hard) and follow the rules. The actual language is of secondary importance (but Python is a good choice :)). All of my slides are up on github [0]. This looks like a nice book. When we were little we programmed on a C64 in basic, with little help (barefeet and in the snow too). A book like this probably would have made things easier.0 - https://github.com/mattharrison/ElementaryPython I’ve taught 3rd-6th graders programming in Python, and they’ve had a good time. It is basically a matter of getting them to think logically (which can be hard) and follow the rules. The actual language is of secondary importance (but Python is a good choice :)). All of my slides are up on github [0].

This looks like a nice book. When we were little we programmed on a C64 in basic, with little help (barefeet and in the snow too). A book like this probably would have made things easier.0 - https://github.com/mattharrison/ElementaryPython

]]> By: Ron Evans http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1612610 Ron Evans Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1612610 If you have not seen it, please checkout KidsRuby (http://kidsruby.com) which is a version of the Ruby programming language for kids, including lessons. KidsRuby is also fully translated into Spanish, French, and Japanese. If you have not seen it, please checkout KidsRuby (http://kidsruby.com) which is a version of the Ruby programming language for kids, including lessons. KidsRuby is also fully translated into Spanish, French, and Japanese.

]]> By: Schneems http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611764 Schneems Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611764 A thousand times yes, Ruby is amazing! A thousand times yes, Ruby is amazing!

]]> By: Listener43 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611743 Listener43 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611743 Bah. When we were kids, we all learned FORTRAN, and we liked it! Bah. When we were kids, we all learned FORTRAN, and we liked it!

]]> By: pjcamp http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611556 pjcamp Wed, 19 Dec 2012 05:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611556 Vpython makes Python a whole lot more entertaining -- very simple 3d animations. You can use it to learn a little physics too. www.vpython.org http://matterandinteractions.org/ Vpython makes Python a whole lot more entertaining — very simple 3d animations. You can use it to learn a little physics too.

http://www.vpython.org
http://matterandinteractions.org/

]]> By: sincarne http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611462 sincarne Wed, 19 Dec 2012 02:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611462 If you live in Toronto, and have a TPL card, both books mentioned are available in Safari Books online! If you live in Toronto, and have a TPL card, both books mentioned are available in Safari Books online!

]]> By: MollyMaguire http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611357 MollyMaguire Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611357 Neat! I have been thinking (well, hoping) for a couple years now that it will be fun to teach my kids python. They are only 5 and 3 right now, but I keep bringing it up. Because I think about my nephews who are in high school. A few times they have said that they thought it would be cool to be game designers and so I said, that's cool, can you program at all?, to which the answer was always no. Well, how is that going to work out?  Neat! I have been thinking (well, hoping) for a couple years now that it will be fun to teach my kids python. They are only 5 and 3 right now, but I keep bringing it up. Because I think about my nephews who are in high school. A few times they have said that they thought it would be cool to be game designers and so I said, that’s cool, can you program at all?, to which the answer was always no. Well, how is that going to work out? 

]]> By: Henry Minsky http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611355 Henry Minsky Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611355 I suggest Ruby for kids rather than Python; Python's syntax is still a little too strict, you *must* have parens, and magic indentation matters. Ruby has optional parens, and indentation is not a concern.  Ruby also has a cleaner object model, for when kids get to that. I suggest Ruby for kids rather than Python; Python’s syntax is still a little too strict, you *must* have parens, and magic indentation matters.

Ruby has optional parens, and indentation is not a concern. 

Ruby also has a cleaner object model, for when kids get to that.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/python-for-kids-a-playful-int.html#comment-1611298 Michael Smith Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201375#comment-1611298 I tried to get my son interested in Scratch but he was wanted to play with the pretty animations you can make but when I suggested he make his own he just went back to minecraft. I tried to get my son interested in Scratch but he was wanted to play with the pretty animations you can make but when I suggested he make his own he just went back to minecraft.

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