Dimitry

Hope, this fits the category...

Hi, mons. I'm doing a project I wish you to help me on. Can you do that?

The project is concerned with programming and education. Both in connection, actually. So at the present time we're doing a brief research, a kind of overview. It consists of 8 simple questions. However, if you were to answer them (and, literally, take part in the research), it would surely become an impact on our work.

Please, do take your tame and answer these, either by replying in this particular thread, or by sending an e-mail letter to dimituri@gmail.com.

So, 'nuff said, here's the actual stuff. :p


1. How high do you think is your level in programming?
- I don't know how to program;
- Rookie (one / two years doing nothing);
- Experienced (wrote at least one useful program);
- Advanced (using several programming languages regularly).

2. What age are you?
- Less than 13;
- 13 to 16;
- 17 to 20;
- 21 to 30;
- 31 or more.

3. Name the country and the city you reside in (if it is possible).

4. If you don't know how to write programs, are you planning to start learning?
- No way, programming is for geeks;
- I would, but I'm still having a hard time trying to figure out how to find a derivative;
- I will start as soon as I will have time (or get divorced, or buy a computer, etc.);
- I haven't enough money to buy a commercial IDE, and everything that is available free is not what I am looking for;
- Yes I am. Programming is cool.

5. Do you put your programming knowledge in practice?
- I write organizers for businessmem (or any other type of private software);
- I work as a programmer in an organisation (provide names, if possible);
- I write small utilities for myself and my friends / relatives;
- I am taking part in definite Open Source projects (provide names and URLs, if possible);
- I am taking part in definite commercial projects (provide names and URLs, if possible);

6. Do you think Pascal now is the best choice for a "first language", for teaching programming (as it, perhaps, was in the past)?
- Python rules;
- Basic lives!;
- You should start with C++, because, even if it is a brain tumor to understand C++ for a beginner, it and its decendants are the most wanted languages out there.
- You should start with Java, as a great number of universities in Europe do.
- I agree Pascal is the best, but only the one in Delphi, because TP7 and BP7 in DOS is inconvenient and outdated.
- I agree Pascal is the best. Period.

7. What features (editing, building, debugging, help systems, etc.) do you think should appear in an educational evironment, targeting the process of teaching how to program?
(your own notes)

8. Name programming environments, or other software you know, that are used in the process of teaching how to program (besides software development environments themselves)? Provide URLs, if possible.

DaWei

I suspect the right place would be the lounge. Age: 12, 3, 3, 10, 50+ year spans. Let me guess. You're in the second age group.

__________________
Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code.
Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

Arevos

I think it's a toss up between this forum and the lounge. It is a manner of project, after all.

You're as oblique as always, DaWei

However, whilst your guess isn't objectionable to me personally, it might be construed as being somewhat derisive toward Dimitry, which I don't think is deserved. It's likely this isn't the case, but a first reply to a post could be a little more encouraging.

Even if it is a survey.

Moving back to the subject at hand, I figure Dimitry has a pretty good chance at getting a fair amount of replies. Programmers, and people in general, tend to like talking about themselves and their opinions on a subject they enjoy. And whilst I'd like to demonstrate modesty in this area, I can't

1. How high do you think is your level in programming?
I use a number of programming languages regularly, so I guess that would pigeon-hole me in "Advanced".

2. What age are you?
I'm in the "21 - 30" slot.

3. Name the country and the city you reside in (if it is possible).
London, UK

5. Do you put your programming knowledge in practice?
I program server-side applications used in pharmaceutical trials.

6. Do you think Pascal now is the best choice for a "first language", for teaching programming (as it, perhaps, was in the past)?
I wouldn't say it was the best choice, though I'm sure it's not a bad choice. I'm not sure what the absolute best first language is, but Python seems like a good choice, as it has a very gradual learning curve, an interactive interpreter, and promotes some good programming habits.

7. What features (editing, building, debugging, help systems, etc.) do you think should appear in an educational evironment, targeting the process of teaching how to program?
I've found interactive interpreters rather useful in this regard. Being able to try out ideas and experiment interactively seems a good way to learn.

Secondly, I think a good teaching language should have the minimum of overhead. You don't want to screw around with compiler variables and build scripts when you could be programming.

Finally, some sort of visual feedback is nice to have. LOGO was successful in this regard, and Guide Van Robot is similar. Some time ago, I was also interested in RoboCom, a competitive programming game which uses an assembly-like language. That could be quite good for beginners too.

8. Name programming environments, or other software you know, that are used in the process of teaching how to program (besides software development environments themselves)? Provide URLs, if possible.
Logo - Simple scheme variant. Very basic, but still a reasonably good teaching tool for beginners
Guide Van Robot - Python based program where Python code controls a robot around a 2D grid of obstacles and objects.
RoboCom - Uses assembly-like code to create self-replicating robots that compete for dominance on a 2D grid. Pretty simple to get involved in.
An Interactive Fiction engine - IF engines such as Hugo and TADs tend to be pretty simple to code for, yet have conditions, loops etc. Creating a game whilst learning programming constructs might be a good way to pick up the basics.
I haven't tried RPG Maker XP - But it does use Ruby, and could be quite entertaining. Depends on how complex it is, however.

DaWei

I have my own perspective. It's why my posts and contributions have declined substantially, and why some other technically competent members visit less frequently or not at all. I suspect the stats for the last six months or a year are revealing. Certainly the forum will become what it's led to be by application of policy.

__________________
Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code.
Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

Arevos

Hmm. I think I see your point, although it's hard to tell with you, DaWei

As to the solution, I am uncertain.