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BASIC, in schools?

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DonH

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Dec 31, 2010, 3:24:38 PM12/31/10
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So, do kids learn computer programming in today's schools, and if not by
BASIC, then what?
BASIC means Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, and would
seem the ideal language in which to *begin* programming.
Most schools have computers nowadays, but is this merely for tutoring,
searching, and communication, or does programming also occur?


winstonsmith

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Dec 31, 2010, 4:11:52 PM12/31/10
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My kid is still kinda young (about to be 10), but mostly they are used
to test the kids for the AR (Advanced Reading) program. And they can
use them for research.

Leo

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Dec 31, 2010, 7:48:00 PM12/31/10
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winstonsmith explained on 1/01/2011 :

I was taught VB6 in High School 3 Years ago in Australia.

--
ClassicVB Users Regroup! comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org


Paul Bartlett

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Dec 31, 2010, 8:27:13 PM12/31/10
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I admit that I am uncertain about this. When I was in elementary
school in the US in the 1950s, computers almost did not exist. There
were a few "electronic brains" (sic!) in a very few places, but on the
whole they were not within most peoples consciousness. "Data
processing" consisted of electro-mechanical machines processing punch
cards. In the early 1960s, when I was in secondary (US high) school, a
few large companies had a few large computers in the IBM 360 class or
comparable machines from some other companies. The idea that ordinary
mortals, let alone kids, would have anything to do with these
mysterious things contained behind glass walls (literally) was simply
outside the universe.

I was a long since grown adult when the first personal/individual
computers came to exist. Crude dialects of BASIC on various machines
were High Technology. Nevertheless, it was possible to deal with
actual, real world, problems in the scope of these so-called primitive
dialects. They were simple and easy to use for simple problems. Where
do we draw the lines, and who draws them? What may be laughable to one
person is amazingly practical and useful to another. (In years later,
I programmed in other languages than BASIC.) I really don't know.

--
Paul Bartlett

aury

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Jan 1, 2011, 9:19:03 AM1/1/11
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Blaa,blaa,blaa...
I know that we must in high school learn Pascal becose some
smart asses in government decide that is pascal 'best'
option for learn programming-what a crap!!!!
For me then and now BASIC is for sure good programming language
for start in programming world.
beep....

winstonsmith

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Jan 1, 2011, 9:24:03 AM1/1/11
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You're kidding, right? Pascal in high school? Never here.
It was the first programming language I had in college - in 1984!

But Pascal today? Not very likely.

ne...@rtrussell.co.uk

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Jan 1, 2011, 5:49:56 PM1/1/11
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On Dec 31 2010, 8:24 pm, "DonH" <donlhumphr...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> So, do kids learn computer programming in today's schools, and if not by
> BASIC, then what?

In the UK it varies; there is no national policy as far as I'm aware.
I know that a number of schools teach BBC BASIC, because they've
purchased it from me!

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/

aury

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Jan 2, 2011, 9:29:17 AM1/2/11
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On Jan 1, 11:49 pm, "n...@rtrussell.co.uk" <n...@rtrussell.co.uk>
wrote:

I do not know about other parts of world.
Like i tell you we must lern Pascal in high school in
Croatia in yaer 1988.
What is today i really dont know...
maby Java or something...

Tom Lake

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Jan 2, 2011, 10:27:13 AM1/2/11
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"DonH" wrote in message
news:5_qTo.6578$gM3....@viwinnwfe01.internal.bigpond.com...

I teach a computer class at a local elementary school (volunteer)
and I use Applesoft BASIC since the school has Apple II computers.
There's no official policy and in a rural area like this, the schools
will take anything they can get.

Tom L

Ethan Winer

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Jan 2, 2011, 12:04:19 PM1/2/11
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Wow, great thread. I too would like to know what language(s) are
taught today in 2011 to kids in high school and earlier grades.

--Ethan

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