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Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

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Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#21

Post by tehwalrus »

Shivetya wrote: post #17
thrush wrote: post #15

Recently Chicago announced that they are going to make Computer Science a core subject for students K-12. And now this children's book is announced. It's really an inspirational time for not only diversity, but general exposure of CS to the mainstream. But seriously, what an amazing idea! Good luck with Hello Ruby!

I bought into Robot Turtles and found it to have been fascinating. Yet, I had real difficulty getting my ten year old nephew to even look at it and I wonder about how well a book, cutesy as it is, will fare. For the game, it was "for kids" (he meant his younger sister), it was a BORED game, and did he mention it wasn't for little kids? I am curious as to the format, book or board game, being relevant in this day

This is aimed at 5-7 year olds. My nepheices, who are about that age, love storybooks - they must have a thousand or so.

Kids abilities and interests differ quite significantly between 3 and 5, 5 and 7, and certainly between 5-7 and 10. (I didn't realise how much until I watched these two growing up.)

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#23

Post by MartinCron »

1angryhacker wrote: post #12

a boys one would be great too, screw equality let's just get as many kids programming as possible.

What? It's not for girls, it's for "children". I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure that boys are children too.

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#24

Post by MichaelGG »

fidotron wrote: post #19

Cynic hat on . . . I'm not sure I get this. Looks like an effort to promote an illustrator more than actually achieve the stated aims. The reasoning is simple: Alan Kay and others have repeatedly demonstrated kids have a far greater aptitude for this stuff than is generally accepted. The packaging in this manner isn't the problem, the problem is the programming environments around today don't tend to do anything the…

I too first really started with Logo. I tried teaching Scheme twice to 7-yr-olds, and found they readily picked up the concepts. But they seem more excited with things like Scratch, since you can get sounds and things jumping around and responding in a very easy manner. Logo is just not as impressive now as it was decades ago.

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#25

Post by Quarrelsome »

brador wrote: post #14
vanderZwan wrote: post #3

I think it could be a great way of repackaging programming education in order to reach out to a different demographic, and we'll have to try out to see, so I wish this project all the best. Having said that: > The book will be hardcover, 8x8 inches and 32 pages. The activity book is 16 pages and paperback. I don't see how you could cover even just the basics mentioned on the Kickstarter page in so few pages without g…

I like and support the intent, but I feel the execution will be a let down in terms of usability. How is it possible to teach even the basics of programming in 32 pages? How would you explain a simple FOR loop to a child through a story?

..... Forgetful George was crying in the corner.

"What's wrong?" quizzed Ivy Iterator.

"It's too complicated" moaned George, he continued: "Mr Main has asked me to deliver all of these invites to the birthday party but I keep forgetting which people I've given invitations to. I gave Sam three invites and Polly hasn't got one yet, it's no use! I can't remember which invite is which!"

"Don't worry" said Ivy, "lets work together to make this more simple! I'll remember which invitation we're giving and which one is next, so all you have to do is deliver the invite!"

George beamed, "Really? You can do that for me?"

"Sure thing George! They don't call me Ivy Iterator for nothing!"

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#26

Post by MichaelGG »

brador wrote: post #14
vanderZwan wrote: post #3

I think it could be a great way of repackaging programming education in order to reach out to a different demographic, and we'll have to try out to see, so I wish this project all the best. Having said that: > The book will be hardcover, 8x8 inches and 32 pages. The activity book is 16 pages and paperback. I don't see how you could cover even just the basics mentioned on the Kickstarter page in so few pages without g…

I like and support the intent, but I feel the execution will be a let down in terms of usability. How is it possible to teach even the basics of programming in 32 pages? How would you explain a simple FOR loop to a child through a story?

>How would you explain a simple FOR loop to a child through a story?

It's a child. I'd hope you'd explain map instead.

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#27

Post by MichaelGG »

judk wrote: post #22

Why do you need a kickstarter before you write a 50page book? Just set up a preorder list, and bill when ready to ship the printed books.

Presumably because you can't pay rent, editors, all the people that prepare books for print, or even buy a coffee, with a preorder list?

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#28

Post by supersystem »

sethbannon wrote: post #6

Such an important project. Resources like this could go a long way towards solving some of the diversity problems we have in tech.

Also this is a good example of why we should have diversity in the first place.

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#29

Post by jeremymcanally »

fidotron wrote: post #19

Cynic hat on . . . I'm not sure I get this. Looks like an effort to promote an illustrator more than actually achieve the stated aims. The reasoning is simple: Alan Kay and others have repeatedly demonstrated kids have a far greater aptitude for this stuff than is generally accepted. The packaging in this manner isn't the problem, the problem is the programming environments around today don't tend to do anything the…

Considering she co-founded Rails Girls, I think perhaps describing here as simply "an illustrator" is a little dismissive.

Re: Linda Liukas' Programming book for Children has Huge First Day on Kickstarter

#30

Post by 1angryhacker »

MartinCron wrote: post #23
1angryhacker wrote: post #12

a boys one would be great too, screw equality let's just get as many kids programming as possible.

What? It's not for girls, it's for "children". I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure that boys are children too.

then why is the top comment banging on about solving problems for equality.
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