Is anyone using Alice for computer science?

[Kendra]

What does my 9th grader need to begin? There are several available texts-- does he need any of them? If so, which one/s?

TIA!

[Anne/Ankara]

We've heard about Alice quite a bit locally (I think because it comes from CMU) but I haven't used it myself-- unfortunately we haven't done any programming yet! But I hear it is interesting, from those kids who have done workshops with it.

Is it very girlish? Just wondering, since it is my ds that needs the programming curriculum...

[Kendra]

Have you watched the little promo video on their site? I didn't get the impression it was particularly girlie. Watch it and let me know what you think.

[Anne/Ankara]

Thanks, Kendra, I did watch the video. Looks interesting! Of course, Randy Pausch is the CMU professor who did that outstanding "last lecture" recently, after discovering he had a terrible form of cancer. Remarkable fellow.

I will check it out more in detail. Have you downloaded the software? Looks easy to use... And, although it seemed to have been aimed at girls, I'm sure boys could find useful things about it. Let us know how you like it!

[Pamela H in Texas]

I didn't see this when it was posted, but I want to say that this program is a lot of fun to just play with even. And there is an online text/course so the book isn't absolutely necessary.

I started with the Storytelling Alice first but that probably wasn't absolutely necessary. I just thought I'd start off simple. My daughter, within an hour of us just exploring it made a video of Moses leading the people out from Pharoah's control. SHe enjoyed drowning the Pharoah in the "red sea." LOL But it was simple for her to do a small multi-scene program. :) My son did a few things with it also as did I. We really enjoy it. My daughter is probably the only one going to, right now, go through the curriculum (the free one online though if she wants the text later, I'd gladly get it for her).

HTHs

[choirfarm]

I have a boy that sounds like he would love this. Where is the site. I googled but just got a discussion of it, not an actual class.

Christine

[Pamela H in Texas]

Christine,

The main website is at www.alice.org You can get all the information about the program, download it, etc there. Also, you can go to the teacher's area (will have to write for password though) and check out the textbooks also (I got more information from the publisher website).

This is one of the syllabi posted on the web. There are others. http://www.dickbaldwin.com/tocalice.htm

Edit: Just a clarification. The syllabus is for the original Alice program. If you're going to play with it first, you might download the Storytelling Alice first. It's SUPER easy to get the hang of.

Hope that helps.

(don't tell anyone, but I'm having a ball playing with it!)

[Kendra]

Very helpful, thanks!

[choirfarm]

Christine,



Edit: Just a clarification. The syllabus is for the original Alice program. If you're going to play with it first, you might download the Storytelling Alice first. It's SUPER easy to get the hang of.

Hope that helps.

(don't tell anyone, but I'm having a ball playing with it!)


Thank you SO much. I think my son will love this.
Christine

[RoughCollie]

Here's a copy of an email I received from Dick Baldwin when I asked him about whether his tutorial would be appropriate for a 9th grade homeschooled student who wants to learn Java:

"Alice would be a good place for him to start. He won't learn any Java with Alice, but it is very engaging and he will learn a lot about programming fundamentals.

At the same time, he may want to take a look at http://scratch.mit.edu/ Scratch is a little easier than Java, is better supported, and has a forum that may be more appropriate for someone his age.

Both Alice and Scratch provide an environment that is more engaging and more likely to maintain his interest than Java. Frankly, Java can be pretty dry and boring until you get to the advanced level.

I recommend that you work on Alice and Scratch right along with him.

After he is comfortable with Alice and Scratch, he can move on to Java at http://www.dickbaldwin.com/tocint.htm ."

[AllSmiles]

I just downloaded this program for my kids. We haven't used it yet, but it looks very interesting.

I have a couple of questions.

1. Where can I find the online text/course?

2. Was it fairly easy to get acess to the teacher's materials?

Thanks :)

[Alice]

Ok, I have nothing really to add to this thread...except that the subject line caught my eye. You're all welcome to use me for computer science...but I doubt I'll be much help. :lol:

Hopefully, someone else will find this as amusing as I do. Maybe this is a sign I should go do something more productive with my afternoon. :D

[RoughCollie]

Here's the url for Learn to Program Using Alice:

http://www.dickbaldwin.com/tocalice.htm

[Kendra]

Thanks for this! Very helpful.

[Pamela H in Texas]

Here is the link to my daughter's first try. She still has some work to do on it. Let me say that it is not completely historically accurate. LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35e9K5JIExk

Here is my first try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXDNJjfzPIQ You may need to use the full screen option to read the words but that will make it blurrier also. I just need to use a bigger font.