Re:How to Write a Spelling Corrector
by imgabe on Thursday September 08, 2016 @04:58PM
(#12457257)
The compiler/interpreter will correct your syntax. Explain it once and show where the documentation is, then let kids loose. There's no need to do a worksheet with 100 "spot the syntax error" problems or to have to write it out by hand on a piece of paper to learn it. That kind of pain is only going to teach kids that programming is a boring game of "find the missing semi-colon".
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Re:How to Write a Spelling Corrector
by riboflava on Thursday September 08, 2016 @07:11PM
(#12458275)
They're going to have to play that game anyway since the compiler/interpret won't spell out the exact issue every time. But they'll get through it anyway because their goal is something else rather than that game. A lot of learning comes from getting past stepping stones, but targeting a stepping stone as an explicit thing to learn and drill on is a poor plan.