The Japanese have some wonderful programming along these lines. For preschoolers there is PythagoraSwitch (ピタゴラスイッチ) [1] which features amazing Rube Goldberg machines, geometric reasoning, algorithmic thinking, etc. Sadly, NHK loves to keep their programmes under lock and key, so I could not find anything to share other than the name.
Well, yeah, the first time they made a really big push technology-wise --- making TRON-OS the default OS for their entire educational system --- the US FTC prevailed upon the State Department to inform them that such an endeavour would be viewed as anti-competitive.
I really wish that such things would instead be shared and celebrated and translated.
I did wonder, reading such a comment, whether it would be a hyperbole, but not only is it documented, it is way worse than that. The free market is only ever enforced in the direction that suits the US, and the vassal states get screwed.
Yeah, the demo where they showed multiple videos being played in separate windows on an 80186 was _amazing_ --- I _really_ wish that using TRON-OS for desktop use on commodity hardware was well-documented --- in particular, it would be _awesome_ for an rPi.
> The free market is only ever enforced in the direction that suits the US
I mean, come on. If it was free in both directions, the US might lose sometimes!!
Sigh. It's so sad. Stuff like this is why free-marketeers (and in particular libertarians) earn my ire. There is not a single economy in the world that is an actually free market. Capital can move fairly freely and labor not at all.
I think it’s a neat and interesting way to teach programming. Having tried teaching kids of various ages, nieces and nephews and my own children, I find physical puzzles are more captivating and easier to relate to.
This is really nice. I looked at one of the video's and it really speaks to me. I am a software developer and my wife is a teacher in a primary school. I have taught two classes with students that showed an intrest in programming. I used the Elevator Saga for the advanced students. With this I can have a more easier start.
I want to do the "make me a sandwich" routine as well :D
My children (3,5,8) and I absolutely love this show. We’ve been watching one new episode every 1-2 weeks and they’re perfectly happy with rewatching. My eldest is able to understand most of it so we’ll rewatch again in 2 (and 4) years so the younger two can follow along. It’s a real treasure and I’m so thankful it exists (and is translated)
As a heads up, NHK tends to remove videos from their site, probably due to contract stuff. It seems Texico starts expiring next year. Sometimes they “rebroadcast,” but for peace of mind make sure to download a personal copy.
The Japanese have some wonderful programming along these lines. For preschoolers there is PythagoraSwitch (ピタゴラスイッチ) [1] which features amazing Rube Goldberg machines, geometric reasoning, algorithmic thinking, etc. Sadly, NHK loves to keep their programmes under lock and key, so I could not find anything to share other than the name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PythagoraSwitch
Well, yeah, the first time they made a really big push technology-wise --- making TRON-OS the default OS for their entire educational system --- the US FTC prevailed upon the State Department to inform them that such an endeavour would be viewed as anti-competitive.
I really wish that such things would instead be shared and celebrated and translated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRON_project
I did wonder, reading such a comment, whether it would be a hyperbole, but not only is it documented, it is way worse than that. The free market is only ever enforced in the direction that suits the US, and the vassal states get screwed.
Yeah, the demo where they showed multiple videos being played in separate windows on an 80186 was _amazing_ --- I _really_ wish that using TRON-OS for desktop use on commodity hardware was well-documented --- in particular, it would be _awesome_ for an rPi.
> The free market is only ever enforced in the direction that suits the US
I mean, come on. If it was free in both directions, the US might lose sometimes!!
Sigh. It's so sad. Stuff like this is why free-marketeers (and in particular libertarians) earn my ire. There is not a single economy in the world that is an actually free market. Capital can move fairly freely and labor not at all.
There’s a similar program in the UK championed by Simon P Jones, one of the co-creators of Haskell. He’s also the chair of CAS and helped developed a national curriculum: https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/resources/2015/january/...
I think it’s a neat and interesting way to teach programming. Having tried teaching kids of various ages, nieces and nephews and my own children, I find physical puzzles are more captivating and easier to relate to.
Principles of programming:
1. Break things down into small units
2. Think about sequence
3. Find patterns
4. Focus on the important things
5. Visualize sequences in your mind
Love the silly music and the way they teach, thanks for sharing this!
This is really nice. I looked at one of the video's and it really speaks to me. I am a software developer and my wife is a teacher in a primary school. I have taught two classes with students that showed an intrest in programming. I used the Elevator Saga for the advanced students. With this I can have a more easier start.
I want to do the "make me a sandwich" routine as well :D
My children (3,5,8) and I absolutely love this show. We’ve been watching one new episode every 1-2 weeks and they’re perfectly happy with rewatching. My eldest is able to understand most of it so we’ll rewatch again in 2 (and 4) years so the younger two can follow along. It’s a real treasure and I’m so thankful it exists (and is translated)
As a heads up, NHK tends to remove videos from their site, probably due to contract stuff. It seems Texico starts expiring next year. Sometimes they “rebroadcast,” but for peace of mind make sure to download a personal copy.
Thankfully, `yt-dlp https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/texico/` Just Werked^tm.
Compare also 'Wonderblocks' from the Numberblocks people & BBC:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderblocks
There are some nice ideas but no continuity, it's just random bits put together. ♫ tekisco, tekisco, tekisco ♫
Though it looks like it is made for kids, adults can learn a lott from these. Superb resource. Thanks
they had me at the theme tune. very charming, my kids are gonna lap this up
Kids in Japan are really good at English.