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Justified: Visual Basic Over Python For an Intro To Programming

Posted by timothy on from the I-know-let's-centralize-such-decisions dept.

theodp writes ICT/Computing teacher Ben Gristwood justifies his choice of Visual Basic as a programming language (as a gateway to other languages), sharing an email he sent to a parent who suggested VB was not as 'useful' as Python. "I understand the popularity at the moment of the Python," Gristwood wrote, "however this language is also based on the C language. When it comes to more complex constructs Python cannot do them and I would be forced to rely on C (which is incredibly complex for a junior developer) VB acts as the transition between the two and introduces the concepts without the difficult conventions required. Students in Python are not required to do things such as declare variables, which is something that is required for GCSE and A-Level exams." Since AP Computer Science debuted in 1984, it has transitioned from Pascal to C++ to Java. For the new AP Computer Science Principles course, which will debut in 2016, the College Board is leaving the choice of programming language(s) up to the teachers. So, if it was your call, what would be your choice for the Best Programming Language for High School?

4 of 648 comments (clear)

  1. instant disqualification by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Visual Basic is not suitable for anything, except perhaps as a form of torture.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    1. Re:instant disqualification by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      VB.NET isn't that bad. It's just C# for people with an irrational aversion to curly braces.

  2. No License fee, no skills. by netsavior · · Score: 3, Funny

    Finally, a nationally branded computer science educational program, we need to build our brands for captive audiences, or we might lose grip.

    Art - Photoshop 101
    Literature - Kindle Classics
    Math - MSExcel
    Writing - MSWord
    History - Amazon Prime Presents: Ken Burns - American Minutiae

    That way our kids won't know how to do anything without a license fee.

  3. Re:This guy hasn't done his research. by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, you know the saying - "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. And those who can't teach become administrators."

    It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.

    -- Edsger Dijkstra

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.