This app is a graphical programming environment for kids to learn coding by creating animations.<p>Although we released it to the app store it's still more of a beta version and we would love to solicit feedback from HNers with iPads. To me, programming is something that kids could really enjoy but the obstacles in their way (getting a programming environment, publishing their code, learning syntax) make the barriers to entry unnecessarily high. We're hoping this will be a good first step in overcoming some of that.<p>http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daisy-the-dinosaur/id490514278?ls=1&mt=8<p>Tell me what you think!<p>Thanks,
Samantha
I learned to program on my TI-82 calculator because I couldn't pay attention in my Engrish class. Learning to program allowed me to actually understand the math I was studying and put it into a practical framework. Especially since I was replicating a lot of games that I couldn't afford. It was great.. I was learning and becoming more popular by distributing these games to my classmates.<p>I played your app with a kid I mentor (he is 7) and he got bored of it very quickly. I think the main problem is that it does not have a clear objective. I can make a dinosaur move, but OK... I get bored super quick. Now. Old school games like the incredible machine... that's an awesome game because its colorful, the objective is clear, there are tons of flexible solutions per stage and it causes him to think with the tools he has in hand.<p>If you add in a mission based structure, I think that will help in the use and addictive-ness of the application. A thought to consider!
I always wondered how successful those apps and languages (Logo etc.) are as learning tools.<p>It seems like a great idea - you make colorful apps, that are easy to fiddle with and you sneak in coding under 'move dinosaur few centimeters to the left' cover - but 'real' programming is not very much like this - it might create false illusion to those children, that it's and fun and easy, and you get real programs working after 5 minutes.<p>Illusion, that will break to pieces when confronted with real world - and I think that disillusionment might actually discourage kids.
I would move away from text-based programming and try a visual metaphor approach, especially on the ipad when touch/gesture are fundamentally easier for kids to learn, i.e. replace "grow" with growing animation of the dinosaur
Take a look at what <a href="http://launchpadtoys.com/toontastic/" rel="nofollow">http://launchpadtoys.com/toontastic/</a> is doing for animation/story-telling.
Great news, I hope this means Apple will allow MIT's Scratch into the App Store soon. <a href="http://computinged.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/apple-removes-scratch-from-ipadiphoneitouch/" rel="nofollow">http://computinged.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/apple-removes-sc...</a>
Getting a programming environment is indeed a barrier which I have experienced a number of times. This contrasts with schooldays when I could start writing a basic program simply by switching the computer on.<p>Why don't Apple, Microsoft etc. package the stuff you need to get start programming with their OSes? (So one could begin learning with 5 mouse clicks or less.)<p>Sorry if this is a hopelessly naive question
I will never understand why anyone would want to teach little kids to program. Especially those who barely know how to add and subtract. I know of no upwardly mobile, reasonably successful adult, 18+, who knows how to program. This makes as much sense as teaching them brain surgery.