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From: dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu (Marshall Dermer)
Newsgroups: sci.edu,comp.edu
Subject: Inner City Kids Become Accomplished Programmers
Message-ID: <9655@uwm.edu>
Date: 20 Feb 91 18:05:17 GMT
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Originator: dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu

Does anyone have any experience teaching computer programming in inner-city
schools with 3rd graders and up?

I was thinking how many programmers are "glued" to their machines.  I think
that this is because programming offers an individual absolute control.
(The newer the cpu/ram the smaller the area over which this control is
exercised!)  And I was wondering if this control could be used to motivate
children to become accomplished programmers.

I was thinking about inner-city kids because there was a documentary on our
local public television about African-Americans, racism, etc. Much concern
was devoted to young, African-American males who are not likely to 
complete school, get involved in crime, etc. The issue of jobs was also
discussed.  There are, however, many jobs for programmers!

It would seem to me that programming could be very exciting in school and
offer the basis for a great job in the future.

Initially, students could write text-based programs that could be used in
school to create drills, form a data-base for baseball cards, or games such
as Wheel of Fortune, Hang-the-Butcher, etc.

Later with mastery of graphics, action games could be created.

There are all sorts of ways that programming could be related to school
activities, subject matter, etc.

Certainly, I must not be the first person to think of this.  I'm
interested in other people's comments about this idea and knowledge about
where such a project might already be in effect.
-- 
Marshall Lev Dermer  [Moshe ben Menasha]|Better living through community
Department of Psychology                |and positive reinforcement. 
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee      |Is God one name for the eternal
E-mail:  dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu      | principles scientists seek?


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