I think it’s a neat and interesting way to teach programming. Having tried teaching kids of various ages, nieces and nephews and my own children, I find physical puzzles are more captivating and easier to relate to.
The Japanese have some wonderful programming along these lines. For preschoolers there is PythagoraSwitch (ピタゴラスイッチ) [1] which features amazing Rube Goldberg machines, geometric reasoning, algorithmic thinking, etc. Sadly, NHK loves to keep their programmes under lock and key, so I could not find anything to share other than the name.
Well, yeah, the first time they made a really big push technology-wise --- making TRON-OS the default OS for their entire educational system --- the US FTC prevailed upon the State Department to inform them that such an endeavour would be viewed as anti-competitive.
I really wish that such things would instead be shared and celebrated and translated.
This is really nice. I looked at one of the video's and it really speaks to me. I am a software developer and my wife is a teacher in a primary school. I have taught two classes with students that showed an intrest in programming. I used the Elevator Saga for the advanced students. With this I can have a more easier start.
I want to do the "make me a sandwich" routine as well :D
There’s a similar program in the UK championed by Simon P Jones, one of the co-creators of Haskell. He’s also the chair of CAS and helped developed a national curriculum: https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/resources/2015/january/...
I think it’s a neat and interesting way to teach programming. Having tried teaching kids of various ages, nieces and nephews and my own children, I find physical puzzles are more captivating and easier to relate to.
The Japanese have some wonderful programming along these lines. For preschoolers there is PythagoraSwitch (ピタゴラスイッチ) [1] which features amazing Rube Goldberg machines, geometric reasoning, algorithmic thinking, etc. Sadly, NHK loves to keep their programmes under lock and key, so I could not find anything to share other than the name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PythagoraSwitch
Well, yeah, the first time they made a really big push technology-wise --- making TRON-OS the default OS for their entire educational system --- the US FTC prevailed upon the State Department to inform them that such an endeavour would be viewed as anti-competitive.
I really wish that such things would instead be shared and celebrated and translated.
Principles of programming:
1. Break things down into small units
2. Think about sequence
3. Find patterns
4. Focus on the important things
5. Visualize sequences in your mind
Love the silly music and the way they teach, thanks for sharing this!
This is really nice. I looked at one of the video's and it really speaks to me. I am a software developer and my wife is a teacher in a primary school. I have taught two classes with students that showed an intrest in programming. I used the Elevator Saga for the advanced students. With this I can have a more easier start.
I want to do the "make me a sandwich" routine as well :D
There are some nice ideas but no continuity, it's just random bits put together. ♫ tekisco, tekisco, tekisco ♫
they had me at the theme tune. very charming, my kids are gonna lap this up
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