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This language is used for programmes ranging from games and instant messaging to processing credit card payments.
Before you get too excited, Lrn isn’t the be-all-and-end-all to learning how to master Javascript. It offers a simple introduction to how the language is structured, but relies on you filling in blanks in the code.
The positive is that it does this in a simple and accessible way; it doesn’t overwhelm the user.
It’s a good place to start for someone starting from scratch.
The lessons will cost you a few shillings, so if you’re looking for a free, more in-depth way of learning code you could always head over to the Code Academy.
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Go outside, get some exercise and some social interaction. Hospital wards up and down the country are choked up with overweight, anti social IT nerds. Don’t become one.
What a ridiculous comment Jon, you’ve really bought into an outdated stereotype. People in IT aren’t unsociable, not the great majority anyways, nor are the majority overweight, though it can be hard to find time to get enough exercise in sometimes. That doesn’t necessarily mean IT people are choking up hospital wards, no more so than mustache wearing exercise nutters.
And given the investment this country has in the IT sector and the number of staff required your advice is bordering on nonsense, do become an IT nerd, it’s a career of constant learning (ie never boring) and brings a good salary (ie cha-ching!).
I’ve worked in IT for nearly 20 years an I’m completely opposed to putting programming languages on the school curriculum.
I’d far prefer to see a strengthening of Maths, formal study of logic and a language-neutral introduction to algorithms.
Languages change all the time and there’s no point teaching specific skills to 15 year olds if they are going to be outdated by the time they hit the job market 7 or 8 years later.
I so much agree . Schools should not specialise on what is popular at the moment. They should concentrate on a general education which can be brought to bear on specific skills later. Most of what IT specialists learned in College is probably now obsolete. Schools must stick to ‘basics’
Going on rant with this one. The ‘basics’ in Irish schools consist of hours upon hours of religious indoctrination. In Ireland you can go to Sunday school (CoderDojo) not for religious instruction to learn coding. I agree with you in relation to strengthening of Maths, formal study of logic and a language-neutral introduction to algorithms, Chris, but feel this can be served through an actual language. Sure languages change but the skills are transferable if done correctly and do not become ‘obsolete’. The computer science facutlies of our Universities are massive and the numer of courses considerable. Yet some would support the scenario where students are expected to select a course involving programming without ever having tried it. This is the reason the drop out rates for computer science are very high – students opt for it without being exposed to it. Students who have succeeded in computer science have done so despite the Irish school curriculum rather than because of it. Many primary schools have been using Scratch to introduce students to programming at a young age to great success. The short course was an oppotunity to develop this further. I am sure that at third level it must be difficult that you have to teach to the lowest common denominator and assume the students know nothing about programming. In other countries you can assume they have studied in school and hit the ground running. I believe every student should be exposed to the basics of programming and those that enjoy should be given the opportunity to study Computer Science as an option at second level.
I have to agree and disagree here. The first language that I learned properly was JS. I learned C first in college. Took a few years off. When I went back and learned python, I realized that language really doesn’t matter, it’s what’s beneath that is really important. I had to go back, at the age of 30, and study maths again so I could really get the most from programming. The problem as I saw it is that when we were learning functions and calculus and even quadratic equations in secondary school, we were never taught how they were applicable in the real world. The teachers simply didn’t know. I think that if you have a basic language like JS taught in schools alongside maths, students can see the application of the math that they’re studying instead of it being an exercise in passing exams. I hated maths in school, now, I can’t get enough of it because I can see how it can benefit me. How many times have you heard “how can I use this in the real world” from a student? Why not show them?
Couldnt disagree more. Programming is a “basic” skill…..basic in the sense that if you understand the logic and structure, the actual language you program in is irrelevant. More transferable, usable and valuable than some existing spoken languages. If we are serious about being a high tech knowledge econony then I think basic programming understanding for all is essential….and school is the perfect place to learn it.
I 100% agree, no point teaching a language. they need to teach the foundations of computer science first. JavaScript is like learning how to do a heart transplant without learning about the heart first
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