Re:Ask HN: How would you teach Java to at risk youth?
by stephengillie on Friday May 04, 2012 @03:55AM
(#3927501)
That's really commendable.
It'll be easy to bore the kids with tons of details about variables, loops, and structures. At-risk kids are usually less curious and more interested in usefulness (I think).
First, get their attention by giving them the fastest route to a simple working program. Basically just show them that they can make programs that can be useful, then help them build by being a local expert.
You can teach variables, loops, structures as your students need them to make their programs work correctly - that way they'll have a good reason to want to learn.
It'll be easy to bore the kids with tons of details about variables, loops, and structures. At-risk kids are usually less curious and more interested in usefulness (I think).
First, get their attention by giving them the fastest route to a simple working program. Basically just show them that they can make programs that can be useful, then help them build by being a local expert.
You can teach variables, loops, structures as your students need them to make their programs work correctly - that way they'll have a good reason to want to learn.