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Johnny Can So Program

Posted by timothy on from the can-not-can-so-can-not dept.

theodp writes "In Johnny Can So Program, CS Prof Norm Matloff calls BS on CNET stories like Can Johnny Still Program? and Can the U.S. Still Compete?, saying it's a shame that CNET fails to cover the real threat to American technological competitiveness, the hidden agendas of Chicken Littles like Jim Foley of the Computing Research Association, David Patterson of the ACM and former Intel CEO Craig Barrett, all of whose organizations have a vested interest in playing the education card."

5 of 730 comments (clear)

  1. There is a problem by PenguinBoyDave · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I taught a computer class for a large group of home school students and private school kids this year. They were, at the beginning, interested in learning to program. However, when it came down to actually doing it, and learning to code, they all, except for one, said "We're just more interested in playing games." The sad part about this is that some of the parents were just fine with that as long as they did their other work.

    --
    I'm not a troll, but I play one on Slashdot.
    1. Re:There is a problem by Perl-Pusher · · Score: 4, Interesting
      "We're just more interested in playing games."

      You get them interested by getting them to create their own games. That's how my college professor did it. We created half-assed cheasy little games. But in the process learned the basics of simulation, object oriented programming, algorithms and managing a software project.

    2. Re:There is a problem by bladesjester · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You might be surprised to know that there's quite a bit of programming in those "crappy flash games".

      Believe it or not, the language is rather C-like and has quite a bit of potential.

      I used to think that making flash was all pointy clicky stuff until a couple of years ago when I attended a presentation at a conference (I went there for some of the other talks, but had a free hour so I decided to drop in for the heck of it).

      I was actually impressed.

      Moral of the story: don't be so elietest. Inspiration comes in many forms.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
  2. Re:Anyone who has ever graded CS papers.. by elementalist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have seen some god-awful code out of domestic individuals. (I have even had the pleasure of writting some.) But my experience with outsourced source is that the quality is as dictated. If you include a coding standard as part of an acceptance criteria it will be adhered too. Its just important to take the time to qualify what is good code for your application.

  3. Re:Thinking of the Children (Sort Of...) by pvxhound · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Cute little ditty. Made me grin. Until I remembered the girl in first year chemistry who liked the feel of water running through her fingers. Out of habit, she poured a beaker of H2SO4 into the sink through her fingers. No one knew who left it there, as there were several guilty parties, but we all felt responsble.