Programming Languages for Beginners

ISBN-13: 9783838369877 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 416 str.

John Murnane (University of Melbourne Australia)

Opis

Programming Languages for Beginners The central idea of this thesis is the relationship between the development of natural language and the design of programming languages for beginners. Dartmouth Basic was designed to be as English-like as possible, whereas Logo was designed as a new way of talking about Mathematics. Two main theories of language development are used: those of Jean Piaget and Noam Chomsky. The implications of choosing each theory are explored. Logos syntax accords with Piagets Constructivism, but if Chomskys Selectivist theory is followed the syntax would develop very differently. The linguistic ideas are explored in the context of robotics. A group of post-graduate teachers built robots constructed with Lego bricks, motors and sensors, controlled by a programmable RCX block. Two programming systems were used: MicroWorlds Logo and Tufts Mindstorms: Logo programs are written in words, MindStorms using a graphical programming system. The differences are compared in terms of language, language development, Computer Science and educational considerations. The teachers added considerable classroom experience and practice to the conclusions.

O autorze

John Murnane is an ex-primary teacher lecturing in computer education at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His research interests include the relationship between natural language and programming languages, particularly for beginning programmers, robotics for schools, and computer use by the old and very old.