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Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

code.org

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Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#121

Post by jkeesh »

cpressey wrote: post #118
jkeesh wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make a lot of assumptions about how kids have to be taught coding. > I tried everything possible. Every other trick in the trade. Even tried to start with Python first and not C. > They struggle to understand where or why should you use an if/else/switch statement, or a for/do/while loop. Its difficult for them to map solution patterns to a code pattern. Its not their fault. Its ours. Better luck trying to explai…

OT and I don't know if you'll find this useful but http://codehs.com/ looks like an absolute trainwreck to me, layout-wise. I'm using Firefox 19 on Ubuntu.

Thank you Hacker News reader for the very Hacker-News-esque constructive criticism. We are trying to improve our site, so if you have specific constructive feedback for us, we would appreciate it.

Thanks! :)

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#122

Post by jonny_eh »

jkeesh wrote: post #104
kamaal wrote: post #73

Hear me out. I was full for this 'teach kids how to code' thingy. But I think we have got this all wrong. Heck we don't have the right kind of tools to teach kids how to code. In fact I have now realized that you can't and should not teach kids how to code. You rather must teach them how to solve problems. Math was supposed to deal with that, but unfortunately that turned out to be complicated symbol manipulation if…

You make a lot of assumptions about how kids have to be taught coding. > I tried everything possible. Every other trick in the trade. Even tried to start with Python first and not C. > They struggle to understand where or why should you use an if/else/switch statement, or a for/do/while loop. Its difficult for them to map solution patterns to a code pattern. Its not their fault. Its ours. Better luck trying to explai…

Clicking "Learn to code with CodeHS!" on http://www.code.org/learn/codehs results in the link being opened within the iframe.

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#123

Post by sybhn »

gizmo686 wrote: post #94
sybhn wrote: post #41

IMO make learning programing (fun) a path to learning math (not fun). Once you understand mathematic fundamentals, understanding finance - and other such disciplines - comes naturally. You soon realize that most of (consumer) finance out there are marketing flush revolving around a few formulas.

Why is learning math not fun? For me, learning math (fun) was a path to learning programming (not fun). Even as someone who 'enjoys' programming as a hobby, I hate the actual coding part. The math is the fun part. And that rush of power you feel where the computer obeys your every wim is a nice bonus (more of a reason to learn bash et el.).

you're right, the fun factor is very subjective. However, wouldn't you agree that those who enjoy maths from the get-go will generally be successful in most modern education systems? The same is not true for those who have difficulties in maths but were never given a early-enough introduction to coding.

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#124

Post by MikeAmelung »

jkeesh wrote: post #120
MikeAmelung wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is a good point, but I'll take it a step further. The kid that likes drawing doesn't have to be a programmer, so stop trying to teach it to him and let him draw without the constraints that programming brings. We don't all have to be the same.

The point you make here (and one made by many others) is a straw man/reductio ad absurdum argument. People who advocate that everyone should learn to code (like myself) to not advocate the absurd conclusions that are used by others to refute this standpoint. I do think people should learn to code. This does not mean I think: 1. Everyone should be a professional programmer. 2. "Everyone should be the same" You can mak…

I'm not interested in logical fallacies. I don't think this is a particularly logical subject. When you say "people" should learn to code, do you mean everyone? I posit, completely illogically, that some people will contribute greater good to society without ever having their brain trained to solve a problem via algorithm. Even without contributing any good, maybe they'll just be happy. Of course I'm not against making things more interesting for those who do have an aptitude or drive for it, so please don't misunderstand that.

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#125

Post by toolslive »

my kids (9,9 & 11) play around with Scratch to create their own games, interactive presentations , ... They started to learn this a few years ago, and I only had to install it and show them the very basics. After that, they bootstrapped themselves using youtube tutorials. Btw, they are not programming, they are building games (at least that's how they look at it). I just want to say that tossing the right toy in their general direction might be enough.

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#126

Post by doktrin »

seanconaty wrote: post #115

Still with the learn to code meme? In addition to all the reasons that @codinghorror raises in http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/05/please-dont-learn-t... , I have a one more to add. The altruism of it all stinks. The meme is being pushed by parties (non-profit or not) looking to gain from teaching people to program (after convincing them that they absolutely should). While it's true that learning to code is bene…

Yeah. I enjoy coding, although there is zero financial incentive for me to do so. It's just something I happen to find pleasure in.

Would certainly be nice if others similarly inclined can experience it, but the whole "literacy" meme is simply annoying at this point.

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#127

Post by CaRDiaK »

vignesh_vs_in wrote: post #81
kamaal wrote: post #73

Hear me out. I was full for this 'teach kids how to code' thingy. But I think we have got this all wrong. Heck we don't have the right kind of tools to teach kids how to code. In fact I have now realized that you can't and should not teach kids how to code. You rather must teach them how to solve problems. Math was supposed to deal with that, but unfortunately that turned out to be complicated symbol manipulation if…

I have a very similar experience with "Teach the kids to code". When i was in 5th grade our school bought a couple of computers and started teaching Logo( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logo_%28programming_language%29 ). It was simple little language, and all of us were excited cause we could make computer draw something for us. After that the curriculum for the higher standards moved more towards the MSOffice, Lotus12…

Same here.. We had logo and a sheet of commands to help us draw shapes. I got into trouble because within 5 minutes I'd binned the paper and was writing my name. I was amazed by the keyboard and the interaction. I was making "Something" happen and I could see it. Straight away. Really got me hooked. Never looked back, I do programming for career / hobby. Just so happy really I had access to that sort of thing as from what I read, it isn't that common!

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#128

Post by doktrin »

interknot wrote: post #53

I am generally enthusiastic about teaching people to code. That said, I am ambivalent about the backing organization, "Code.org": Every single person on their advisory board ( http://www.code.org/about ) has a vested interest in there being more programmers competing for jobs. I feel like they are misrepresenting the nature of most programming jobs to the general public. They prey upon people's fear of unemployment a…

> My guess is that we'd still end up with legions of unemployed people that happen to be mediocre-to-awful at programming.

Probably true. For all the hype around the job market today, generally speaking only talented developers find employment.

The rest tend to end up in other fields or unemployed. I can only imagine what the market will look like when the talent pool expands.

Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education

#130

Post by why-el »

nandemo wrote: post #55
why-el wrote: post #5

Most challenges faced across the global are cultural and linguistic in nature. The heavy dependence on English is a huge barrier to most children and young adults out there. All my attempts to introduce young cousins and nephews to coding failed because they are at the stage where anything not in their own tongue is unfathomable. I looked into making a small ny-own-dialect-based mini language but it seemed that a bet…

While it's certainly possible to learn programming without knowing English (millions of programmers have done it!), if your cousins don't speak English or another foreign language then you should probably consider that a priority, instead of programming.

They do speak foreign languages, but not English.
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