Microcomputers are becoming increasingly common pieces of school equipment, giving rise to much discussion about the most effective way to use them as a teaching aid. This article argues that even extremely young children can be taught to program the machines right from their very first contact with them. A teaching strategy is proposed, having more in common with the teaching of language than with the more traditional didactic-reinforcement cycle commonly employed in the text books.
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References
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MindstormsSeymour Papert Harvester Press (An introduction to the educational language LOGO. Compulsory reading).
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ComputersBrian Smith Usborne (An invaluable collection for younger children. Plenty of programs to type in, amend and improve. All packaged as only Usborne know how.)
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More BASIC Computer Games (Another fine collection of ideas; many plums amid some pastry. Several of the games were designed to print out on paper from an older generation of computers, and need a fair amount of alteration to fit on the micro's VDU screen. Ideal source material!)
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Mathematical ActivitiesBrian Bolt C.U.P. (A collection of classic recreational maths. Nothing about computers as such, but possibly a source of good ideas for programs)
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Computer Puzzles: For Spectrum & ZX81Stewart & Jones Shiva (The programs are specifically dedicated to those two machines, but should not be too difficult to convert to others. Good educational value in the games when you've got them, too.)
