3 ms·

I started with BASIC programs written on my TI-86 to automate math problems; they may find that a useful way to get started, and learning a little BASIC shouldn

by floren 7y ago

I started with BASIC programs written on my TI-86 to automate math problems; they may find that a useful way to get started, and learning a little BASIC shouldn't be much more brain-damaging than learning Javascript. I kind of have a problem with training people to "code" rather than teaching computer science; feels sorta like comparing a "wine and painting night" to a course in oil painting, in that you might shortcut to something acceptable-looking but with little understanding of how or why you did it. But they're kids and will probably quickly tune out during Dad Explains Linked Lists :) Ideally I'd suggest starting off with some smaller guided exercises to get them familiar with the language, then work with them to spec out and implement a more interesting project. In my CS courses in college we implemented the minimax algorithm for tic-tac-toe and checkers, starting with a tic-tac-toe engine which just printed out its desired move and evolving along until we were displaying a checkerboard as it played along. Could be a good project for you since it's implementing something they're familiar with (board games), doesn't use anything weird like networking, and can introduce concepts such as recursion and complexity ("if we have it calculate the next move, how many possible moves are there? What if we calculate the next two moves? The next three?")

aphextim 7y ago
I remember geometry in 9th grade. I ended up programming my TI for all the formulas so it would prompt for the variables then you hit enter and viola, perfect answer every time. We had a test where I ended up finishing in about 10 minutes. The second person to finish took 30 minutes +. In hindsight I should have went slower because it was obvious no one could have finished as fast as I had. After the class was dismissed the teacher obviously asked me to stay after class and asked me if I had downloaded all the formulas I had used. I explained that I did not download/transfer from someone and that I had programmed the calculator to do it for me. Teacher called me out (probably not believing it) and asked me to program the volume of a cylinder. Took about 10 minutes to write it up quick, showed it worked and rather than reprimand me the teacher did something amazing. She said something along the lines of, "If you understand the formula enough to write a program to do it for you, that shows you understand it at a higher level. Rather than punish you, I will still give you a 100% and you are allowed to use your calculator for the remainder of the class as long as you do not share your program(s) with anyone else." I never had many friends (loner nerd type) so that was easy and it was the easiest 100% I had ever gotten.
- nvusuvu 7y ago
  Good teacher.
- floren 7y ago
  Hah, it was geometry class for me too. Lots of plug-and-chug arithmetic, no logic required, translated perfectly into simple calculator programs.
- MH15 7y ago
  I had a calculus teacher in 11th grade who followed the same principle. Best math teacher I've ever had. Didn't give us 100%, but the calculator programs were worth extra credit.

by floren 7y ago

aphextim 7y ago

I remember geometry in 9th grade. I ended up programming my TI for all the formulas so it would prompt for the variables then you hit enter and viola, perfect answer every time. We had a test where I ended up finishing in about 10 minutes. The second person to finish took 30 minutes +. In hindsight I should have went slower because it was obvious no one could have finished as fast as I had. After the class was dismissed the teacher obviously asked me to stay after class and asked me if I had downloaded all the formulas I had used. I explained that I did not download/transfer from someone and that I had programmed the calculator to do it for me. Teacher called me out (probably not believing it) and asked me to program the volume of a cylinder. Took about 10 minutes to write it up quick, showed it worked and rather than reprimand me the teacher did something amazing. She said something along the lines of, "If you understand the formula enough to write a program to do it for you, that shows you understand it at a higher level. Rather than punish you, I will still give you a 100% and you are allowed to use your calculator for the remainder of the class as long as you do not share your program(s) with anyone else." I never had many friends (loner nerd type) so that was easy and it was the easiest 100% I had ever gotten.

nvusuvu 7y ago
Good teacher.
floren 7y ago
Hah, it was geometry class for me too. Lots of plug-and-chug arithmetic, no logic required, translated perfectly into simple calculator programs.
MH15 7y ago
I had a calculus teacher in 11th grade who followed the same principle. Best math teacher I've ever had. Didn't give us 100%, but the calculator programs were worth extra credit.