My DS8 is intensely interested in computers. He wants to learn to program; he wants to learn how they're built; he essentially wants to know everything he can. Since he's rather a voracious reader, he would love some books on the subject. Does anyone have any good primers on the subject that you can recommend? Ideally I'd like to get him a few books--one that's an overview of computers maybe, one about programing, and anything else that sounds like he'd like it.
If you have any recommendations, we'd love to hear them!
Google tufts university SAM (stop motion animation software for use w/webcam- great gallery by kids).
Looks like it's free, haven't tried to use it yet. �
About building computers I'd probably buy him a snap-circuit set of some sort to play with and try to get fine motor skills. �Later on just google build a computer you'll find stuff like this, for $800. �http://mobile.pcmag.com/device2/article.php?CALL_URL=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2360849,00.asp. But I think it's a lot of tiny screws and plugs, possibly sautering. �So, start with the snapcircuits or the Lego mindstorm or something.
Does anybody use that logo turtle thing? �Is it any good? �What does it do?
Does anybody use that logo turtle thing? �Is it any good? �What does it do?
More recent and probably currently more popular than logo is Scratch
http://scratch.mit.edu/ , which is free for Mac OS X, Windows, and Ubuntu Linux. Users connect blocks rather than type to create programs. My 7yo boy is an avid Scratch programmer. Once I installed Scratch he figured it out -- I have never programmed in it.
I just got a ol vista laptop, actually the boy does- he took it over and I got my iPhone. You can install ubuntu on any computer right, like firefox? I'm going to buy that terabyte external hard drive probably on my next trip to Sam's Club. Thanks for letting me borrow your thread Nan, txia Bostonian. Oh, wait! U said windows. Now I know who to ask if I get confused.
According to
http://info.scratch.mit.edu/Scratch_1.4_Download Scratch is "compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7".
DD likes scratch and has recently been playing around with Kodu to do more game programming.
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/kodu/Kodu has some nice online tutorials and after installing it, dd 8 has been able to work pretty much independently through them.
My kids (ds11 and dd 9) love Larry Gonick's cartoon guides (Physics, Genetics, world history, American history etc.); there's one on computers, too -
http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-Guide...mp;ie=UTF8&qid=1302786597&sr=1-1 It describes and illustrates the basic principles of processing units, binary code, elementary logic, etc. and summarizes the history of computer development (Babbage, Lovelace, Hollerith, Turing).
That looks like a neat book!
JB
I second this - thanks it looks terrific - my library has all the others but not this one, but the others in the series look terrific as well. We are always looking for advanced info but still having pixs for DS5!
Hi.
My son started on Game Maker when he was 8. Check out the book The Game Maker's Apprentice. It comes with a CD for a free version of Game Maker Light. The description on Amazon reads in part: "Game Maker allows games to be created using a simple drag-and-drop interface, so you don�t need to have any prior coding experience. It includes an optional programming language for adding advanced features to your games, when you feel ready to do so." My kid has learned a lot of coding over the past two years. He also used Beginning Programming for Dummies, which uses Liberty Basic.
Yes, the Gonick books are big hits at our house. I haven't done more than skim them, but the kids have been reading them for years.
I believe Gonick also draws the cartoon figures that appear in the margins of Muse magazine, and has written a book based on them: Attack of the Smart Pies.
Mini-brag. I just downloaded scratch. I watched the first how to video, how to make the fish change colors. I found the two commands, dragged them to the script box. It didn't work. I pushed the green flag and looked around for more buttons to push, ds3.5 pushed my hand out the way, too k the mouse and said, "they said to connect them togeather." and he did, and it worked. I always get surprised, then I say "they make this stuff to teach kids. I shouldn't be surprised."
Anyway, thanks. Looks like great quality and the price is right:)
I just googled up this page:
Introductory Informatics - looks as though most of it is aimed at people older than your DS but maybe some of it is relevant?
I'll agree with the recommendations for both Scratch and the Gonick books. DD and DS both love em.
Thank you for all the recommendations! I have downloaded Scratch for DS's computer; I have a couple of books on order; and I will start looking through those links.
I recently installed Scratch for DD8 and DD10. They had a ball and were able to easily figure it out on their own. The only thing they need me for was an audience.
It certainly made a cold, rainy afternoon much more fun.
I second the Scratch recommendation. I installed this for DD7 earlier this year and she figured out much of it on her own, I assume from picking apart the tutorials. It's very intuitive.
She's at the point where I need to step in and show her how to use collision logic and variables so her games can be fully working. I think that will inspire another round of creation with it.