Omnimaga
General Discussion => Other Discussions => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: LincolnB on September 19, 2011, 08:05:15 pm
-
I, as hopefully a great many others who are on this site, have a great deal of love for programming. I got into programming at a time in my life when I was very lonely/bored out of my mind/etc. I really feel like other people need to give programming a try, and embrace the nerdiness. Who cares what other people think?
Anways, I created this thread to discuss how to "convert" people to programming, specifically programming calculators (inspired by the "Why Johnny Can't Code" thread, found here: http://ourl.ca/13080).
I like to think I converted Parser Padwan, first to TI-BASIC and taught him the basics (yuk yuk yuk) of it in math class. Any conversion stories you'd like to share? What works? Parser Padwan, would you mind telling your side of the story (about your "conversion") ?
-
I have turned 1/2 of AP Stat class to calc programmer with Silence demo alone. >:D
-
What works? Parser Padwan, would you mind telling your side of the story (about your "conversion") ?
Yes, I like to think you converted me. (you did). about my side of the story...
first, I was born. lol
I really thought it was cool that it was something that could do cool things (games) and have the calc do the useless formulas for you. ex. quadratic formula :P
and plus I thought "hey, everyone likes buttsfredkin (allthough I didn't call him that) because he is a nerd and puts games that he makes on people's calcs.
Also, I have never said this before, but the reason I started programming was that I could get you off my case. after all, you had asked me like four times before
to learn, and so I finally said to myself "fine, I'll suffer through it." however, after you showed me, I thought "Wow, I have been such and idiot. being a nerd is cool. 8)"
thank you buttsfredkin! ;D
-
Haha that's funny. Come to think of it I did notice some resistance from you initially. :)
-
did I show it that much? dang, I am a bad actor. ;)
Also, I know someone else in my math class knows how to program, but I don't know who. Wish I did though.
Do you have Shaw?
-
How can I get kids who just care about everything except computers to get interested in computers?
-
No, I have Wytiaz. Wait, how do you know that they know how to program, but you don't know who it is? Also keep in mind you can use IRC to ask questions if you don't want to wait for a forum reply.
-
Every day in shaw, she gives us a quiz, and then we correct it and give it back to the person, and then she asks us a random question that we write the answer to on the back. then she reads them to the class. exept it she doesn't say the names of the people. That particular day the question was "what do I do for service to other people?" one of the answers was "I program peoples calculators" but, she didn't say the name. And I think it would be wierd to ask her who it was.
What's IRC?
-
I know the kids in my school like arcade and shooting style games, and any time they can get help on homework, especially math. So there's some things I can teach kids how to do in programming. But what language? I like BASIC256, so maybe that.
-
Every day in shaw, she gives us a quiz, and then we correct it and give it back to the person, and then she asks us a random question that we write the answer to on the back. then she reads them to the class. exept it she doesn't say the names of the people. That particular day the question was "what do I do for service to other people?" one of the answers was "I program peoples calculators" but, she didn't say the name. And I think it would be wierd to ask her who it was.
What's IRC?
If you have 40 posts (which you do), at the top page, there's a OmnomIRC ShoutBox. IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, and it's pretty much a chat room where we just chill some times.
Ask her! Embrace the akwardness. We may be successful in bringing a new one to the fold lol :)
-
Seems like they are allready in "the fold" lol.
the quiz was last Wednesday, so I'm not even sure she still has the particular quiz. besides, there is me and 1 other sophomore in my class, and I have allready asked him if that was him, and he said no. so odds are it is someone we don't know. however, we should become friends with them.
However, I am trying to find out who it is, by making a simple game on every calc on the classroom set. once they exit, it says "programmed by" and my name.
so maybe they'll get one and come to me and say "hey, you program?" however probably not likely. :(
-
What would be the best programming language to teach "newbies" (7-8 grade range who never programmed)?
-
TI-BASIC!! prolly
-
These kids don't know what a graphing calculator is.
I'm thinking BASIC or BASIC256.
-
What would be the best programming language to teach "newbies" (7-8 grade range who never programmed)?
I was in 9th grade when I started, but 83 Basic was all I needed to learn, because you can make the simplest programs ever,
and if you work hard you can make a fairly entertaining game. (wide range). anyway, that's what I would reccomend. :)
also, they don't know what a graphing calculator is?! do you live in the 19th century? :)
-
No, these kids see me programming on it and call it a "nerd calculator". These kids are so technologically illiterate...and I want to try to get them interested in computers and programming with a simple programming language so I can show them how easy it is to make their own games and home-work-helping programs. I think I'll teach some of my friends and most interacted with kids BASIC256. If you can suggest another easy programming language, please do so.
-
My one friend converted me, but he dropped it because he gets bored with things he can't do quick lol. Since then, though, I've converted but one of my other friends to computer programming, and two to calculator programming (maybe another soon). The one I got to do the computer part wanted to do it beforehand anyway, so I guess I just encouraged him.
But what language?
If you can suggest another easy programming language, please do so.
I started the friend I got into computer programming off with VB6 and he loves programming now. I think any language that's easy (not what you consider easy, but what is generally considered easy) is a good place to start :)
-
No, these kids see me programming on it and call it a "nerd calculator". These kids are so technologically illiterate...and I want to try to get them interested in computers and programming with a simple programming language so I can show them how easy it is to make their own games and home-work-helping programs. I think I'll teach some of my friends and most interacted with kids BASIC256. If you can suggest another easy programming language, please do so.
Ha! a nerd calculator! whenever people call me a nerd, I just say "ha, laugh now, but in about 10 years you'll be working for me." :P
-
Spyro, you could try a technique I read about in Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy (great book!)
Basically, some guys wrote a version of BASIC (possibly the originaly version? idk). They lived in California at the time they wrote it, and their intent with writing it was to get technology illiterate people (read: technofools) to get into programming. They would make some kind of a magician-like demonstration with their computers (harder these days :P), showing them that this box could do amazing things. And then they would talk to them about it afterwards, and in the book they compare it to a drug dealer approach. "Hey, check this out...you like it? You could program this, you know..." et cetera. Good luck with whatever you're doing!
-
Yeah that's what all my teachers and friends say: "All those kids who don't know anything about computers will be on the streets and you'll be very successful in life." LOL
-
Yeah that's what all my teachers and friends say: "All those kids who don't know anything about computers will be on the streets and you'll be very successful in life." LOL
ain't that the truth. :w00t:
-
Yeah that's what all my teachers and friends say: "All those kids who don't know anything about computers will be on the streets and you'll be very successful in life." LOL
ain't that the truth. :w00t:
XP
now somebody beat my record of converting 20 ppl into calc programming in single day >:D
-
When I see the computer class teacher again, I'm gonna ask her if there's any way we can start an after school program about making computer games (with something simple like Game Maker for the kids in my school).
-
I was going to volunteer at one of those, but I forgot. I will email the teacher!
-
Ummm. Just a thought. I got one of my friends interested by just showing them a game called Drag Race V1 (awesome game.) It was in asm, so it was fast and it was fun (it was an upgrade game -- those are addicting.) So then I taught him the basics of BASIC programming, and since he didn't own a calc, I told him how to use QBASIC (Q stands for quick). Now he's doing pretty well in python with pygame. However, he doesn't like forums for some un apparent reason. (I'll have to try to convert him to that).
Well, that's my story.
A few afterthoughts: If you show people a really cool game on your calc, they tend to get into it more (wow! a CALCULATOR can have games on it?). However, just saying, "Uh, do you wanna learn how to program? I do it.", is much less appealing. I actually said that to somone once, and he looked at me like "are you crazy?"
also, if you have an fx-9860GII, I highly recommend getting Drag Race V1 on Casiocalc.org file sharing.
And finally, parser padwan, I love your new avatar.
-
You can also try to get people to join the robotics team at your school if you have one. At least some of them will be on the programming team, and can learn from there. Then, you just have to tell them their calculator's programmable ;)
-
To flyingfisch, thanx for liking my avatar.
To Butts, we should start a "game making" club at school. (code for programming)
I'm sure we could get it approved by the admin... :)
-
pfff, admin approval is so over rated. I taught a couple people today a mini-lesson during lunch. It was awesome. :)
-
cool topic. ++Nerds & ++Geeks //prefix increment for optimization ;D
-
To flyingfisch, thanx for liking my avatar.
To Butts, we should start a "game making" club at school. (code for programming)
I'm sure we could get it approved by the admin... :)
I like your avatar too, I ski all the time.
Me and Spy should start a Game-Making club too.
-
Hey iVenom, where do you ski? We ski at Boston Mills all the time (dad patrols there).
-
pfff, admin approval is so over rated. I taught a couple people today a mini-lesson during lunch. It was awesome. :)
People that I know? Was it BASIC?
-
Actually iVenom, I think I'll be teaching the computer class teacher's elective class 2-3 days a week. I'll be teaching the kids how to use Game Maker.
-
All you have to do is show them a violent video game made in game maker and they will be hooked. GML is easy and fun. I am actually very good at it, so I can give you some tips.
-
Yeah. I used to use GM, but I haven't used it in a while since I've been doing a lot of C++, C#, asm, and a lot more linux stuff. But yeah, I'm pretty good with GM as well. I use a not fully authorized version of GM 8 Pro. (lolz). I have converted a few people to programming as well, but I really want to start a club, for more advanced stuff, or more interested people. Anyways, one of my vice-principals asked to talk to me about creating an Android app. I'm thinking I can use the chance to try and get a programming club approved.
-
pfff, admin approval is so over rated. I taught a couple people today a mini-lesson during lunch. It was awesome. :)
People that I know? Was it BASIC?
Yeah, a few people you know.
-
Anybody you think you can "bring into the fold"?
-
Hmm...it's a possibility. But you have to work up to that point. I'll get there. :)
-
P.S. why did you pick me to teach all your nerdy stuff to? (just wondering, not regretful :))
-
I don't really know. You just seemed like the kind of person who would like it, and understand it. There are some people who just can't program, no matter how they try. But I thought you could, so I thought, what the heck, why not.
-
Glad to see someone believes in me :)