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A comment on Another reason you should learn to code: Python for Excel. Parent comment

Re:Another reason you should learn to code: Python for Excel by gbog on Sunday June 10, 2012 @09:41AM (#4091012)
With the same argument you would easily arrive to the conclusion that the best way to learn grammar is a spell checker.

Actually it depends, if those beginners are supposed to become programmers then you're wrong, if they just want to write one piece of software once in their life and never do it again then maybe you're right.

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Re:Another reason you should learn to code: Python for Excel by freehunter on Sunday June 10, 2012 @11:14AM (#4091250)
An important part of teaching a beginner is making sure they don't get bored or frustrated. Their first language may not give them all the experience they'll need down the road, and may not be something they'll ever use again, but what you need is something that's not frustrating and gives them the idea that they themselves can actually make something. Spark the interest, and they'll want to press on.
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Re:Another reason you should learn to code: Python for Excel by SkyMarshal on Sunday June 10, 2012 @04:22PM (#4092088)
Yup. Scheme and Scratch fit that description well.

1. http://www.trollope.org/scheme.html

2. http://racket-lang.org/learning.html

3. http://scratch.mit.edu/

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