what should be our criteria in selecting a programming language for young learners?<br><br>here's my list, which is what inclines me towards etoys / squeak:<br><br>
1. good visual drag and drop of some type <br>
2. dynamic typing (easier to learn without extensive type declarations)<br>
3. late binding (ability to observe and modify program while it is running)<br>
4. debugging messages that make sense readily<br>
5. good tools for exploration of the language features with examples etc.<br>
6. low entry - high ceiling<br>
7. ability to share fully with other children in the world, rich or poor (ie. open source, multi-lingual, its on the OLPC)<br><br><a href="http://www.sauria.com/blog/education/1457.html">http://www.sauria.com/blog/education/1457.html
</a><br>why we took the kids off python<br>(his 5yo daughter found squeak easier)<br><br><br>-- <br>Bill Kerr<br><a href="http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/">http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/</a><br><a href="http://www.users.on.net/~billkerr/">
http://www.users.on.net/~billkerr/</a><br>skype: billkerr2006<br><br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/13/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Donna Benjamin</b> <<a href="mailto:donna@vitta.org.au">donna@vitta.org.au
</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Hi Everyone,<br><br>We've just been putting the finishing touches on the VITTA conference program. Fingers crossed it should be online next week. Here's a sneak preview for those of you diving into programming, we're running a huge range of programming related sessions.
<br><br>Gamemaker<br>- Tony Forster (mon)<br><br>Scratch<br>- Sarah Pulis (tues)<br>- Liddy Neville (tues)<br>- Darrel Branson (wed)<br><br>Squeak eToys<br>- Bill Kerr (tues)<br><br>Python<br>- Roland Gesthuizen (tues)<br>
<br>VB.Net<br>- Harry Schlanger (tues)<br>- Graeme Summers (mon)<br><br>PHP for VCE SD<br>- Kevork Krozian (mon)<br><br>Databases<br>- Stewart Smith (wed)<br>- Arjen Lentz (wed)<br>- Theresa Deshon (wed)<br><br>Cascading Style Sheets
<br>- Maggie Iaquinto (mon)<br><br>ActionScript<br> - Scott Vaughan (mon)<br> - Michelle Dennis (wed)<br><br>cheers<br>Donna<br><br>--<br>Donna Benjamin<br>Conference Co-ordinator<br>2007 VITTA Conference and Expo<br>Rethinking Education: You say you want a revolution?
<br>19-21 November, The Grandstand, Flemington Racecourse<br><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/2007">http://www.vitta.org.au/2007</a><br><br>Victorian IT Teachers Association Inc<br>T: +61 3 9495 6836<br>F: +61 3 9495 6834
<br>E: <a href="mailto:donna@vitta.org.au">donna@vitta.org.au</a><br>W: <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a><br>Suite 202, 134-136 Cambridge St<br>Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia<br><br>_______________________________________________
<br><a href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>Year 7 - 10 IT Mailing List kindly supported by<br><a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au
</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all">
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