[python-nl] Python at Schools

[Jack Jansen]

On 5 okt 2009, at 12:17, Matthijs Kadijk wrote:

>
> If you want to teach kids the principles of programming (variables,  
> loops, functions) it can be done independent of the programming  
> language. I suggest to have a look a scratch, a x platform  
> (smalltalk based ?) visual programming environment. You build small  
> (object oriented) script using drag en drop, like solving a jig saw  
> puzzle. The GUI is available in multiple languages, including the  
> command pieces you can use. So this can be used by even very young  
> programmers. It also has a strong visual bias, you can draw spites  
> and program their behaviour. I think you should be able to show that  
> programming is FUN, and it does not really matter wich language you  
> use to express yourself ..
>
> you can find it here: http://scratch.mit.edu/ I am sure you will  
> like it and so will your pupils ...

Scratch is really really nice. I only wish it had a "python escape":  
if there was a way to implement code for each of the block types  
(statement, conditional, expression, etc) in Python it would be a very  
nice way to gradually lead kids from the visual building block  
paradigm to textual languages.
--
Jack Jansen, <Jack.Jansen op cwi.nl>, http://www.cwi.nl/~jack
If I can't dance I don't want to be part of your revolution -- Emma  
Goldman