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Re: [Phys-L] computer programming for kids

Drag and drop programming is how labview allows folks to prototype their software. It is what many universities use with their engineering students to control systems.
I can't imagine the harm done allowing an 8 year to use drag and drop programming to learn how to use loops, if then, mathematical operations, and control graphics.



...::. Sent from a touchscreen.::...
Paul Lulai


----- Reply message -----
From: "Bernard Cleyet" <bernard@cleyet.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 26, 2013 6:10 pm
Subject: [Phys-L] computer programming for kids
To: "Phys-L@Phys-L.org" <Phys-L@Phys-L.org>


On 2013, Jun 26, , at 11:33, Larry Smith <larry.smith@snow.edu> wrote:

This is not exclusively a physics question, but it is related.

Should every kid learn how to program computers in public schools?
In what grade(s)?
Using what language(s)?

What other technology skills should kids learn in public schools?


Well ain't school, but both Eisberg and Feynman taught leapfrog. Many chapters in Eisberg & Lerner's book have end of ch. numerical exercises and that's decades ago.

Being an old foggy, I object to black box programming. e.g. drag and drop, etc. for maths., modeling, etc. OK for text writing.


bc encouraged to learn Runge-Kutta then read recent text-- don't bother computers fast enuf to set step size small enuf for good accuracy. He also uses TruBASIC. on old computer because not supported on the Intels.
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