dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu (Marshall Dermer) (02/21/91)
Does anyone have any experience teaching computer programming in inner-city schools with 3rd graders and up? I was thinking how many programmers are "glued" to their machines. I think that this is because programming offers an individual absolute control. (The newer the cpu/ram the smaller the area over which this control is exercised!) And I was wondering if this control could be used to motivate children to become accomplished programmers. I was thinking about inner-city kids because there was a documentary on our local public television about African-Americans, racism, etc. Much concern was devoted to young, African-American males who are not likely to complete school, get involved in crime, etc. The issue of jobs was also discussed. There are, however, many jobs for programmers! It would seem to me that programming could be very exciting in school and offer the basis for a great job in the future. Initially, students could write text-based programs that could be used in school to create drills, form a data-base for baseball cards, or games such as Wheel of Fortune, Hang-the-Butcher, etc. Later with mastery of graphics, action games could be created. There are all sorts of ways that programming could be related to school activities, subject matter, etc. Certainly, I must not be the first person to think of this. I'm interested in other people's comments about this idea and knowledge about where such a project might already be in effect. -- Marshall Lev Dermer [Moshe ben Menasha]|Better living through community Department of Psychology |and positive reinforcement. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee |Is God one name for the eternal E-mail: dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu | principles scientists seek?