[Yr7-10it] PS : Teaching vb - suggestions

[Costello, Rob R]

PS  google shows me that the manual I've inherited was largely compiled
from 
http://www.vbtutor.net/lesson1.html
and 
http://allapi.mentalis.org/vbtutor/tutmain.shtml
(images have disappeared from the 2nd site) 

Other idea is to have some more advanced reference material / tutes on
the network for those who want to go further; can handle some self
directed reading and tinkering; 

VB6 doesn't actually have help files installed unless you install the
separate MSDN disc - similar issue with vb.net I think - though MSDN is
fully available online for both - its really helpful to be able to press
F1 and get help though 

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms950408.aspx


cheers 

rob 


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Costello, Rob R
> Sent: Saturday, 9 February 2008 12:06 PM
> To: 'yr7-10it at edulists.com.au'
> Subject: Teaching vb - suggestions
> 
> Hi Kim and Jenna and VB heads
> 
> I've also got Yr 10 Programming.
> 
> Until now we have used VB6, not VB.NET - not that I think that matters
> much at year 10 level
> 
> We have used a portfolio / project approach, rather than tests
> 
> I think the approach suits the subject  - allows students to
demonstrate
> their understanding in applied ways
> 
> The course approach I inherited is not one I would have chosen, yet it
> works well so I'll describe it
> 
> Students have a workbook with lots of typed code (for little projects
like
> hangman's noose, dice simulator, a simple horse racing game,
asteroids)
> 
> All of these have come of the internet tutorials, and have
instructions
> for adding the GUI controls ("add a button and call it test1Cmd" etc)
> 
> They type them in, get them to work, and try to extend them
> 
> Some of them are tagged as assessments - with marks for extending the
> project
> 
> Some "free" projects - which may build on the existing projects
> 
> the approach has the benefit that the code scaffolds many of the
lessons,
> , even if the teacher is not that comfortable programming
> 
> It also launches the kids in straight away - no sitting around through
> programming lectures
> 
> The potential weakness is they are using a lot of concepts they don't
> really get; although maybe we could call it induction into a community
of
> practice
> 
> Anyway, my initial tendency in teaching programming was to make them
sit
> through regular explanations  " this is an object, this is an array,
this
> is a method, this is a property, this is a loop structure"
> 
> I've done this before, and seen it done, and for lots of kids it kills
it
> stone dead
> 
> So I think I now favour the former method, with theory insertions to
point
> out how the code works
> (stepping through the execution in the debugger can help)
> 
> (personally if I had to set VB.NET tests, I'd aim at features of the
> original BASIC (variables, loops, control structures)
> 
> I think that is the heart of programming - in any language ; GUI tools
and
> OOP techniques just refine that.
> 
> having said all that, I also cut short the two terms of VB to 1, and
> taught Gamemaker instead; which the kids found a welcome change
> 
> for kids (and teachers:) ) who don't really have a programming
background,
> Gamemaker is a much gentler intro
> 
> This year, I'll do that in reverse I think - start (Semester 2) with
> Gamemaker (or Scratch or Alice or Starr Logo TNG or Etoys) for
programming
> concepts that are not obscured by language complexities - actually
looking
> at that list could probably drop VB all together :)
> 
> One last thing : giving someone a programming course because they're
"good
> at ICT" is a recipe for a steep learning curve; and possibly
stressful;
> just like giving a techie programmer type an ICT design course - that
a
> graphics ICT teacher used to teach - would often be unkind  - but
schools
> tend to see the "ICT subjects" and "ICT teachers" as interchangeable
> 
> I don't know where the electronic copy of the workbook is but I can
> probably find it people would like; as I said I'm pretty sure it's a
> compilation of internet tutorials
> 
> Hth, Cheers
> Rob
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> Sent: Thu 2/7/2008 12:57 PM
> To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: [Yr7-10it] VB.NET written theory tests
> 
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> I am teaching Yr 10 Programming and just wondering if anyone out there
has
> any tests that they may have written for VB.NET.
> 
> Kim
> 
> Email:hw at whsc.vic.edu.au

Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.