Raspberry Pi

[Frontpaw]

What's that all about then?

And the reason I want it rather than jut using my laptop is that I have no choice but to tinker and dabble. My laptop has all the reasons to cheat on it. I want code... I can cheat, go to a forum and ask and someone will post the code. It's the setting it up, getting it to do exactly what you want it to do and just generally tinker .

Ill just ask DS(7) to show me how it works!

DDs school is starting to offer GCSE Computer Science as alternative to ICT - I think this is meant to do programming isn't it?

Hi GTN,

Yes, Computer Science is a proper subject and well worth doing. It is just a shame that your DD probably won't have been given a foundation in Computer Science throughout her earlier schooling to help prepare her for it (although I am sure she will be fine and they will account for that during the early lessons).

If they spent less time praying at school they would have more free time to teach proper subjects....

Oh, DDs school seems to neatly avoided praying, can't blame that. Todays ICT lesson though - rare dispensation to use mobile phones in school hours, to scan QR codes and do a scavenger hunt.

How much prep do you need for programming anyway - I do it for a living and have had barely any formal training. I'd have thought you could do quite a lot in two years.

I agree... if you're interested enough the best way to learn the fundamentals of programming is to teach yourself. But I think you have to find it fun to progress well.

You are right that armed with a good logical approach and something interesting to code is enough to get you learning very quickly!

dd has discovered codeacademy today - teaches JS in quite a friendly way that seems to appeal to her.

I've been playing with a version of this for a while as part of an OU course and as my first experience of programming it's been really good although my old creaky brain sometimes siezes up and can't do it. IIRC it is using/following an MIT programming language scratch . I know my DS1 (now 12) has had a great time with mine writing little programmes and one of his friends is a whizz at it I am considering getting them to do my final assigment for me

i'd forgotten about scratch!

The codeacademy is brilliant. I'm going to have fun with that tomorrow, I might even let the DS' have a go

I'm going to have a go too been rather a long time since I've done any programming (other than some html on a website I look after)
dd got through the tutorials this evening but she says it has suggestion of things to do.