Pupils need to program:( easy to deploy, use and is free)

[chazzy2501]

Urgh:

Learning Outcome 1: Be able to devise algorithms to solve problems
Learners must be taught about1:
. the nature and uses of various high-level language types, i.e.:
o Object-oriented (e.g. VB, VBA, Scratch, App inventor, iPhone Apps)
o Procedural (e.g. Basic)
Scripting languages (e.g. VB Script, Action Script, JavaScript, Game Maker)
Learners must be taught how to:
. analyse problems in terms of language choice, input, processes, and outputs required
• break down solutions into simple steps
• present solutions using algorithms, i.e. flow diagrams and structured English
• identify measurable success criteria.

Something with an MSI (for my deployment sanity) something that won't require executables to be made. Something free. maybe something M$? I have EES..

I remember some ugly flow chart programming software....

[bladedanny]

The flowchart style one will probably be scratch. We have it running off a share with no problems. We're an average sized primary school with maybe half a class using it at a time.

[SovietRussia]

VB and VBA should be available as a MSI from M$

[Little-Miss]

Yep, Scratch....

Flowol?

[tmcd35]

Not 100% certain what you're asking for here. I think you're describing Flowol: Flowol 4

But if you're after a recommendation for start language then Scratch, followed rather quickly by Greenfoot: Greenfoot

The other option is web programming: HTML, CCS, PHP, MYSQL, Javascript, Ajax - powerfull and easy to code stack...

[chazzy2501]

Yeap, it was flowol must have been an old version, I certainly don't see any licencing in my pile for it so nevermind...

Scratch has already prooved easy to deploy, I'm just tweaking the.ini to hide drives.

[chazzy2501]

Gonna try Greenfoot, I just can't get the scratch program to behave itself. (ignored the ini, lets pupils access the C drive and write files. Also lets them save files to the local copy of their profile (as foretold in the network install guide) My PCs unfortunately wipe those out when they logout!

I've tried clean new test pupils, rolled back the Virtual PC to a pre install state nothing works.

scratch.ini

[Global]
DeferUpdate=1
ShowConsole=0
DynamicConsole=0
ReduceCPUUsage=0
ReduceCPUInBackground=0
3ButtonMouse=0
1ButtonMouse=0
UseDirectSound=1
PriorityBoost=1
B3DXUsesOpenGL=1
CaseSensitiveFileMode=0
EnableAltF4Quit=0
ImageFile="Scratch.image"
Home=W:
VisibleDrives=w:,y:
Share=0
Proxyserver=isa
ProxyPort=8080

It says the ini should be in the appdata folder but I look into the pupils redirected appdata folder and it's not there? Maybe the program can't work with that?


EDIT: Yes, it puts the ini in the local appdata (incorrect version of the ini btw) and it doesn't find it's way to the redirected directory.

[chazzy2501]

http://www.greenfoot.org/overview: It uses JAVA! New requirement: NO JAVA!

I'd rather use hessian underpants than Java...

[bossman]

@chazzy2501:

Try this for a starter pack: Microsoft Small Basic

Comes as an MSI and is easily installed and follows the rudiments of different protocols, Oh! it also comes with a pdf on how to use it..............Great stuff!

Easy for the younger students building into something quite elaborate for the older ones

Hope it fits the criteria

[AngryTechnician]

Another vote for Small Basic. The class library it comes with means pupils can have a program that does something 'interesting' without getting bogged down in the minutiae of API calls and the like. For example, I seem to recall that pulling CC licensed images from Flickr can be done in just a few lines.

[jinnantonnixx]

I'm a bit fan of Python, and you could do worse that look here for a tutorial course plus a place to try out code.
Try Python: Interactive Python Tutorial in the Browser


If you don't mind tying yourself to .Net, this is a free, open-source IDE for Basic & C#. It's very good and very comprehensive.
SharpDevelop @ic#code

Edit: I've completely misunderstood your requirements, but I'll leave the links in place as they might be useful anyway.