[Yr7-10it] Re: Learning PERL (or PHP,PYTHON)

[victor rajewski]

I do know perl, python and php, and though I quite like it myself, I
would keep perl away from high school students. Unless the student in
question is a l337 h4x0r. In which case they can probably learn it at
home, themselves, in a short period of time. Basically, it has the
potential to become extremely messy and confusing unless you're very
disciplined. Python is quite nice, and forces you to write readable
code. PHP, is, ummm, a language. I've got nothing for or against it,
though it's use is mostly restricted in the real world to making
websites.

The good thing about all of these languages is they have really good
tutorials, documentation and function references (and examples)
online. I've used PHP's heaps, and it is very tidy, Perl and Python
both have extensive ones too. And it is here that the focus of the
learning should be. Once a person knows a couple of languages, they
can pick up most other languages quite easily, provided they know how
to use the reference material. If you can teach them this early on
they can probably teach themselves thereafter.

On Nov 30, 2007 12:12 PM, Colin SUTTON <oz.sutton at gmail.com> wrote:
> I wouldn't know PERL, PYTHON or PHP if it fell on me BUT:
>
> I taught in Queensland for a couple of years and ran classes at 8-10
> (students were in Learning Units with 8 + 9 + 10s) with lots of different
> things running - giving choices to students. I used a 'points' system to
> encourage students to do LOTS. The points scored were related to the grade
> they achieved at the end of the semester. Not too sure how this would work
> under ... VELS!
>
> I found and wrote a wide range of resources and students used these and they
> taught each other. I used freeware stuff where possible and websites. There
> is LOTS more availbale now and these Edulists are also a great source of
> inspiration and sharing. Some things I NEVER learnt myself - the students
> helped each other and did some great things. It was probably the best
> teaching I ever did.
>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> COLIN _______________________________________________
>
>
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