Teaching kids about computers...

On Wed, Nov 21, 2007 at 01:58:38PM +0000, Jules Richardson wrote: Did he mean "how do computers work" or "how can I make the computer do what I want"? Probably the latter, in which case I suggest the best place to start is a generic Unixish machine with X11, and python. Help him write simple games like the one whose name I forget where you memorise sequences of colours. Move on to simple problem solving like mazes or sudoku. Only then, I think, would it be a good idea to move on to C, assembler, or hardware. I do advocate *adults* starting with an assembler and something simple like a 6502 or 6809, but not children. They'll just get frustrated at how much work is involved to make anything exciting happen. When I was a wee brat, I started with BASIC. I very much doubt I'd have any interest in computing now if I'd been made to start with assembler or a soldering iron. -- David Cantrell | Enforcer, South London Linguistic Massive When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life -- Samuel Johnson