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Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

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Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#111

Post by dba7dba »

_d8fd wrote: post #45

I've never been a parent or teacher, and have not been responsible for raising children in any formal capacity. So, my question is... Are the kids remotely interested in programming, and does it make sense to try teaching them if they show no interest? As a child, I remember pushed towards taking piano lessons and hating every second of it.

I'm a parent who never got to take piano lessons. And I didn't particularly enjoy things that I was made to do when young.

And now as a parent with kids, I wish I got a chance to take piano lesson (or any musical instrument) when young. I make kids do things that I know I didn't enjoy when young, like studying, being responsible, facing consequences. And just like me, it's a decade(s) long process.

Obviously there should be reasonable limit on how much you will push your kids to do things they don't want to do. But I believe it's every parent's responsibility to help/push kids experience/learn new things when young. Even if they don't enjoy it (if so, it should not be pushed too hard or for long), it's a success because everyone involved gets to know what the kids enjoy or hate.

I'm not suggesting scheduling every waking hour of a child for an organized activity/study. But more/various activities for young kids are generally a good thing imho.

Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#112

Post by dmVI »

foopod wrote: post #52
red-indian wrote: post #7

I teach. I have the kids learn Python between age 9 and 11 depending on when they are interested. We write games and learn the fundamentals of CS by following the curriculum of Rice's "Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python" class designed by Rixner and Warren. It has a Python interpreter and game library that compiles in-browser into javascript, which is a very helpful design for a first class, and for sh…

We used Learn to Mod for a junior hackathon, it is like modding Minecraft but with a scratchlike interface. Super cool

I did the same in New Zealand and it was a massive hit with the kids! Great site with a series of tutorials, in browser barebones Minecraft game to see the results of your code and a great full version Minecraft setup with dedicated worlds where the code is loaded as book objects inside the game. HIGHLY recommend checking them out: https://www.learntomod.com/

They also offer free teacher and student accounts with the ability to limit time. Can't say enough positive things about the service.

Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#113

Post by [deleted] »

foopod wrote: post #52
red-indian wrote: post #7

I teach. I have the kids learn Python between age 9 and 11 depending on when they are interested. We write games and learn the fundamentals of CS by following the curriculum of Rice's "Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python" class designed by Rixner and Warren. It has a Python interpreter and game library that compiles in-browser into javascript, which is a very helpful design for a first class, and for sh…

We used Learn to Mod for a junior hackathon, it is like modding Minecraft but with a scratchlike interface. Super cool

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#115

Post by NoPiece »

I like Pico 8, which is a fantasy game console that use Lua, and has an integrated editor, player, sprite editor, and music tracker.

Working with games and graphics is a good way to give a goal to the learning.

It comes with PocketCHIP, which is a cool cheap way to get handheld computers in kids hands, or you can get it standalone and run it on a PC/Mac/Linux.

http://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php

https://getchip.com/pages/pocketchip

Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#116

Post by Baeocystin »

hal9000xp wrote: post #58

My father bought me a russian clone of ZX Spectrum 48k in 1994 (in post soviet states, ZX Spectrum was hugely popular during 90s just like in UK during 80s): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum My father was not an engineer and had no idea what to do with it. I also was completely uneducated (I was 10 years old boy in 1994) and basically ignored school classes (or prefered to sleep there). So I also had no idea…

I can relate. I feel very, very lucky that my early programming experience was on a Commodore 128. Instant-on, straight to the REPL. And being able to switch between C=64 mode & C=128 mode made me aware of how differences in hardware and language changed how you approached a problem, and how CP/M was something else entirely.

It really was the perfect intersection of complicated enough to be a fun system to explore, and you could do Real Projects with it, and simple enough that you could 'hold the whole machine in your head'. I still remember how proud I was when I figured out how to write a TSR driver for a mouse cursor using the tape buffer for storage so that I could move a sprite around with a joystick at the same time as being able to use the shell. At the time, it felt like magic.

Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#119

Post by ilaksh »

Teach them how to access a simple programming environment like codepen and then load up examples for them to modify that might be motivational. Sit in a room where they can see you doing programming yourself. Teach them how to google. Be available for questions or debugging help. Teach them to debug.

They must be motivated to explore and teach themselves. If you try to dictate their interests or lessons then it will just be a chore and they won't learn how to teach themselves.

They will naturally emulate you if they see you programming. They will also naturally lose interest in programming if there is no quiet time set aside where neighborhood stick-ball or whatever cannot interfere and they are distracted by their friends.

Re: Ask HN: How should I teach code to kids?

#120

Post by userbinator »

hal9000xp wrote: post #58

My father bought me a russian clone of ZX Spectrum 48k in 1994 (in post soviet states, ZX Spectrum was hugely popular during 90s just like in UK during 80s): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum My father was not an engineer and had no idea what to do with it. I also was completely uneducated (I was 10 years old boy in 1994) and basically ignored school classes (or prefered to sleep there). So I also had no idea…

I would agree --- actually buy your kids a ZX or C64, and also show them all the cool demos others have made.
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