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Re: What programming language should we teach?
How about Javascript? No, seriously... it's free, it's cross-platform, it's already available on virtually ANY computer without needing to install anything at all, it's not terribly complicated, and it greatly resembles many of the other languages in use.

When it comes to algorithmic thinking, the prompt(), alert(), and <ocument.write() methods are great for run-time interaction and feedback. Modular programming can be practiced using functions and objects (yes, Javascript even has an equivalent to classes... although public/private data sharing isn't really covered). For event-driven practice, forms, mouse-overs, and keypress events cover enough to give a good overview.

I'd envision a project where perhaps the students are given a pre-written HTML "wrapper" (say, a form with several widgets) and told to do some simple stuff with Javascript. With later assignments, the HTML could be part of the assignment too.
Posted by: ZDNET_guest666   Posted on: 06/27/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Re: What programming language should we teach?  ZDNET_guest666 | 06/27/08
I say we go back to Turbo Pascal happy  BitTwiddler | 06/27/08
Good choice  potomac79 | 06/27/08
in this day and age..  dragon@... | 06/27/08
Turbo Pascal and OO  Yagotta B. Kidding | 06/27/08
TTT_Agree_Proc  BitBanger!USA | 06/27/08
Pascal - Fundamentals  wwilkins | 06/28/08
For high-level C#  x21x | 06/27/08
VB AND C++  dragon@... | 06/27/08
C# yes, VB NO WAY  Stuka | 06/27/08
just to be clear about VB.NET  pgklada | 06/28/08
Bring back ...  Ludovit | 06/27/08
I totally agree with BASIC  christopherborne@... | 06/27/08
.....  Linux User 147560 | 06/27/08
BASIC  bret307@... | 06/28/08
I thought my HS teacher was crazy...  LiquidLearner | 06/28/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  HANSaaS | 06/27/08
Languages in high school....  JB King | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  krasni_bor | 06/27/08
Python's a fine choice  wolf_z | 06/27/08
I second that  shis-ka-bob | 06/27/08
Best Choice  manishkshwh@... | 06/28/08
A small suggestion  wolf_z | 06/28/08
types in Python  trenchsol | 06/29/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  wkulecz | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  D. T. Schmitz | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  BitBanger!USA | 06/27/08
Form design in VS is half-baked  shis-ka-bob | 06/27/08
C then C++ or PERL  storm14k | 06/27/08
Would you advocate punch cards?  jackbond | 06/29/08
Why only one?  HooNoze | 06/27/08
And it's free, too!  Yagotta B. Kidding | 06/27/08
Pseudo Code  desjardinsy69 | 06/27/08
Pseudo Code? Yes and No  Roque Mocan | 06/27/08
C, everything is easy after that  Stuka | 06/27/08
VB get my vote  Roque Mocan | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  Linux User 147560 | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  relwolf | 06/27/08
NONE, teach programming concepts instead.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/27/08
Java, maybe C  beoz | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  nate63179 | 06/27/08
Java, java, java  mavedrive | 06/27/08
bash (nt)  n0neXn0ne | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  Fulicasenia | 06/27/08
Javascript and HTML are a good idea  davebarnes | 06/28/08
JavaScript and...  brettz9 | 06/27/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  ttharper | 06/28/08
VBA in Excel is THE choice  pgklada | 06/28/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  b06jeo | 06/28/08
Teach Machine Code and Assembler.  deowll | 06/28/08
RE: Why teach programming language?  htroque@... | 06/28/08
Apparently it has escaped you...  zkiwi | 06/28/08
Teaching people to waste their time?  X41 | 06/28/08
C or APL  Henrik Moller | 06/28/08
See Jane With a Pointer. See Jane Miss the Malloc Error. See Jane SegFault.  DannyO_0x98 | 06/28/08
The $64 million question  fewiii | 06/28/08
Another tip  fewiii | 06/28/08
Questions  AndyCee | 06/29/08
This really is a tough question (based only upon my experience).  B.O.F.H. | 06/29/08
Why not C#?  jpelak | 06/29/08
It really depends what century you want to teach  tonymcs@... | 06/29/08
I say pascal  ImaGremlin | 06/29/08
Pascal can probably be good choice. C can be considered as a second one.  EricSham | 06/30/08
Use Javascript and HTML, first.  preston@... | 06/30/08
Which language? Wrong Question!  t.bradford@... | 07/01/08
Scheme, Squeak, or BlackBox  (mayson) | 07/01/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  MattGiuca | 07/03/08
RE: What programming language should we teach?  mitch@... | 07/28/09
Teach them your favorite language  Duke E. Love | 08/04/09
RE: What programming language should we teach?  Histrion2 | 08/05/09

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