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What the Tortoise Said to Laurie (computer science for kids)
- giberson 16y agoFirst time I've heard this take on a Zeno's paradox (I had to wikipedia it to find out it was a Zeno's paradox). I've always known it from the Meg Ryan movie I.Q. in the scene where Ed tries to cover the distance to Catherine by moving half the distance each time. I find it kind of amusing that at 27 this is the first time hearing a take on the Tortoise and Achilles for something math related I learned a long time ago from pop culture instead.
- josephv 16y agohttp://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567 http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/...
- jjcm 16y agoFor kids? Or for computer scientists who are looking for their dogma in children's book form? It's humorous, yes, but I don't see a child understanding the concepts behind it when presented in this form.
- niels_olson 16y agoI owe aristus a response after pledging to read it to my kids. Result: my 9 year old daughter loved it and wants more.
- aristus 16y agoCan you think of a better way to explain it? Serious question.
- niels_olson 16y agoskip Lauren Ipsum, Achilles, and the turtle. Tell you what, I'll print this out and read it to my kids and let you know.
- aristus 16y agoThat would be wonderful. Thank you!
- corin_ 16y agoWhat age range are you targetting, or do you not have one in mind?
- aristus 16y agoIn my head Laurie is eleven, so I'm targeting ten and up. That feels about right, thinking back on my childhood.
- corin_ 16y agoI asked my mother for her thoughts on it - she currently teaches a few autistic children, in the past she's offered private tuition to children and adults learning English as a foriegn language, and she's also had ~10-15 for-children novels published in the UK. [19:58:13] Hannah: I think a 12-year-old might find it a bit patronising. It's not bad, but I think there are better things of that sort. [20:08:18] Hannah: I think any slightly intellectual child over five would find it interesting if it was their first exposure to that sort of thing. But I'd prefer to expose them to Lewis Carroll or Phantom Tolbooth. (She also points out that it needs proofreading.) But of course, her negativity doesn't mean you won't be successful :)
- aristus 16y agoThat's good feedback -- thanks! I'm surprised that she found it too easy for a 12 year old, but Just Right for a precocious 5 year old. I was afraid of erring in the other direction. Did she give examples of good books about computer science for 12 year olds? Maybe she meant kid's books in general? Proofreading: it's a manuscript, of course it needs proofing. :D
- corin_ 16y agoI can't speak to when I was a five year old, but I think certainly I would have been ready to grasp those concepts when I was a few years younger than twelve. No examples from her (other than "I'd prefer to expose them to Lewis Carroll or Phantom Tolbooth"). Proofreading - wasn't meant as a general piece of fairly obvious and patronising advice, like "if you write a book, remember to proofread!" She meant that the article you published wasn't proofread. Corin
- corin_ 16y agoWell that was odd.