New ICT Programing Software

[HarryMonkey]

Here it's Small Basic, Python and Vis Basic Express on a VPC.

[NikChillin]

What are you guys planing to deploy for the new ICT?

 

I have deployed the following so far

 

- Small Basic (This is free)

- Kodu Game Labs (This is free)

 

 

Going to deploy

 

- Visual Basic Pro 2010 SP1 (Free through DreamSpark)

 

- Expression Studio Ultimate (Free through DreamSpark)

 

- Windows Phone SDK

 

- Android Devlopment, probs looking at Esclipe, unless we can get it working with Visual Studio 2010

 

 

 

Any other software ideas?

 

Also is it best to have the Windows SDK with Visual Studio?

 

This is going to be made with APP-V, so looks like Visual Studio, Expression Studio, Windows Phone SDK will have to be one package because of all the SDK and intergration between the products, does that sound the right thing to do?

 

Can I ask which method you used to run these programs? We are using VMware and wondered if there was a better solution.

[mavhc]

Our head of IT said she did not want any programming software as students should learn that in college and Uni, so she is sticking with teaching office and animated gif's for animation in fireworks. Sad isn't it, that person is in charge of developing young minds.

 

I agree, it's not like the entire future of working life will be opened up to people who know how to program, I don't see computers, robots, 3d printers, etc being used much in jobs in the future.

[GrumbleDook]

Computing is not just about coding. It is about analytic problem solving, learning vocabulary and language structure, creative design, time management and group work.

 

No ... I can't see any of the above used in working life.

 

The problem with coding is that people tend to stick it in a silo of its own ... and not link it with activities in other subjects. That means that the common skills and concepts also get put in there too and it means massive opportunities are missed.

 

Computing is not unique with this though and only an integrated curriculum will really deal with this.

[CyberNerd]

I'm also wondering why network managers think that a raspberry pi with root linux, python and a network connection is going to be such a good idea - given that it is an ideal hackers environment (and therefore programmers environment).

 

THis might be a good option for running Python etc:

Gate One | Liftoff Software (press esc)

[OverWorked]

Just put Kodu in a lab for our ICT teacher to play with, looks brilliant as a starting point for tricking Year 7s into programming - no typing, really quick results, shiny graphics... the only danger is that everything else looks boring by comparison!

 

Had a look at Adventure Game Studio the other day as well, still quite straightforward but looks like an actual IDE so could be a good way to get them used to that whilst still being based around making games (and therefore interesting to them)

 

I installed Kodu a few weeks ago, just put a brief note on out Intranet, and left them to it. Some of them are developing their own games now with no input from me or teachers. Great!

 

I hadn't heard about Adventure Game Studio. I may do the same with that.

 

I'm thinking of doing an informal after-school programming club with things like this. I've just bought my 9-year-old son an old Lego Mindstorms RCX robotics set. After 2 days he's already programming in C. It's amazing what they can do if they're left to it.

[sonofsanta]

I'm thinking of doing an informal after-school programming club with things like this. I've just bought my 9-year-old son an old Lego Mindstorms RCX robotics set. After 2 days he's already programming in C. It's amazing what they can do if they're left to it.

 

I suppose it's no different from us playing with Speccy code or Amiga code back in the day... just that we didn't have much else to do on the machines at the time, so now we need to find ways of convincing kids that programming is more fun than another crappy Flash game