A programming language must include control structures such as if-then-else
and case logic as well as loop control statements such as For, While, and
Repeat. It must also make use of procedures that can be called by name.
Teaching the HTML markup process is a good exercise to show students what's
behind all the cool displays. It is a problem solving activity, but it is
not computer programming.
We are using Computer Science today to teach problem solving techniques via
the software development method. The most popular programming language used
in this effort is Pascal, but there is some movement toward C and C++.
Visual Basic is also getting some attention.
At our school we are seeing a much greater interest in computer science,
possibly due to the proliferation of computers in the schools and homes.
Students think that programming for a GUI interface such as Windows is neat.
If you would like to teach some computer programming at the lower grades, I
would suggest using a version of structured Basic such as Qbasic from
Microsoft. It is fairly simple and contains the appropriate control
elements needed to teach structured programming.
And just recently, Java has entered the arena.
Sam Hogan
hogansp@mrnet.com
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Jeffrey Miller <jemille@cello.gina.calstate.edu> wrote:
>How about using HTML as a programming language, well for the basics.
><-8
>I had second graders experimenting with the <hr>, <center>, and heading
><h1>-<h6> attributes last year. Tables and forms this coming year.
>Is that true programming? I do not know. However, it is using abstract
>symbols and words to get a computer to do something cool. <;
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Sam Hogan Computer Science Teacher/Information Systems
hogansp@mrnet.com Menominee High School=952101 18th=
St=95Menominee=95MI=9549858
<< hogans@menominee.k12.mi.us >>=95(906) 863-7814
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