Teaching kids about computers...

Jules Richardson wrote: It seems like you want to teach a number of different things. Although they interact, I think the learning of each is separable. There is the electronics aspect ... then there is the low level machine code and binary aspect ... then there is the higher level programming language aspect Which end to you want to start from? If you toss it in together all at once the task is much bigger to teach, and I think more confusing to learn. I'd say let it be dictated by your son's interest. Is he more interested in wires, batteries and lights? Or is he mathematically inclined and would get a kick out of learning binary? Or does he want the fastest path towards getting interesting feedback (in which case start with the higher level language). People frown on BASIC and hold their noses, but I think it isn't so bad as a first language; use a dialect that allows long variable names, has subroutines with local variables, etc, and it will be fine. If the machine has color graphics accessible from BASIC, you can very quickly get exciting visual feedback with short programs. Teaching C or PASCAL as a first language would test the patience of the typical 9 year old, what with having to declare everything before using it and having sophisticated but subtle syntax. If he takes a shine to programming, then introduce the cleaner, more powerful languages. Actually Python might fit the bill for both cases ... don't worry about the OO stuff and just use it as a simple language at first. If he wants to learn machine language ... you might consider the classic, CARDIAC, originally produced by Bell Labs. I don't know if it is still accurate, but just googled and as of 1998, you could still buy them new. The following page has some pictures of the unit and a description of using it, along with an address of where to buy it. http://www.larkfarm.com/cardiac_answers.htm It is a machine language, but decimal, so you can decouple learning binary from the concept of machine language. java cardiac simulator (I haven't tried it): http://sourceforge.net/projects/cinc My kids are a little bit too young for all of this (just turned eight), but I'd love to hear others' opinions for in a year or two it will be my turn.