I didn't believe I would ever say this, but ANYONE can learn some sort of
programming in the right learning environment and ANYONE can learn another
language. The closer you are to the program, the more control you have
over it. HyperCard is very easy to learn, and I have NEVER had ANY student
not learn some programming in HyperCard. Surprisingly, many students,
having had exposure first to HyperCard, then to HyperStudio, actually
prefer HC. ONe example is making a field pop-up with a dissolve effect.
Currently impossible in HS, easy in HC (if you know the script).
HTML is another (more difficult) language, but very powerful in presenting
information. By saying "leave it to those who want to be programmers", are
you saying that some people don't have the capacity to learn how to
manipulate the symbols required to get the program to function? I wouldn't
say that everyone has the same capacity for programming, but I also don't
believe that because programming is perceived as too difficult for many
people that it should be abandoned. If a programming language can be used
to present information and therefore increase understanding and enjoyment
of learning, then it should be considered as an appropriate educational
tool for the classroom.
Just my two cents worth.
Brad
Brad Pearl
bpearl@airmail.net