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Introduction to programming?

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  • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

    A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

    Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    Let her lead the conversion, then whip out a sample to illustrate: [Code samples - Windows app development](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/samples/)

    It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it. ― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

      A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

      Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

      P Offline
      P Offline
      PIEBALDconsult
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      Sander Rossel wrote:

      currently a primary school teacher

      Maybe good as a tester / QA then. Find out what happens when a hamster or a crayon is entered rather than the expected input.

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

        A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

        Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

        M Offline
        M Offline
        Maximilien
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        Ask her if there is something she'd like to do on a computer or something she'd like to have or a problem she'd like to solve. If you only show hew code that does nothing interesting (ie. hello world) she'll get bored. With a goal in sight, programming will be easier.

        I'd rather be phishing!

        J Sander RosselS 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • M Maximilien

          Ask her if there is something she'd like to do on a computer or something she'd like to have or a problem she'd like to solve. If you only show hew code that does nothing interesting (ie. hello world) she'll get bored. With a goal in sight, programming will be easier.

          I'd rather be phishing!

          J Offline
          J Offline
          Jon McKee
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          This. As weird as it may sound my introduction to programming was Perl regular expressions. I stumbled across them and was fascinated, so I learned the minimum Perl I needed to play around with them (load text, call regex, output results). That turned into curiosity about Perl in general and 17 years later I still learn stuff using the same process. Find something interesting and then dive down the rabbit hole.

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

            A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

            Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

            D Offline
            D Offline
            David ONeil
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            If she can't think of anything in response to Maximilien's question, ask her what her favorite topic is, and then show her how she can organize that info through a database, or with objects. She can teach you something new as you help her!

            The forgotten roots of science | C++ Programming | DWinLib

            Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

              A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

              Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

              R Offline
              R Offline
              RossMW
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              Are you sure its the programming she interested it... hint hint..

              A Fine is a Tax for doing something wrong A Tax is a Fine for doing something good.

              Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

                Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
                Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
                Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                If she is smart she will do the learning thing alone (or pick alone the route at least)... As you not actually going to teach her programming, you should show her the possibilities - how versatile computer programming is... Do not waste your (and her) time on 'Hello World'-like things... Make her hungry, move her imagination... If she is any good the rest will come...

                "The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012

                "It never ceases to amaze me that a spacecraft launched in 1977 can be fixed remotely from Earth." ― Brian Cox

                Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                  A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

                  Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  RickZeeland
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  Maybe one of these: best-resources-for-a-programming-beginner-to-learn-c[^]

                  Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • M Maximilien

                    Ask her if there is something she'd like to do on a computer or something she'd like to have or a problem she'd like to solve. If you only show hew code that does nothing interesting (ie. hello world) she'll get bored. With a goal in sight, programming will be easier.

                    I'd rather be phishing!

                    Sander RosselS Offline
                    Sander RosselS Offline
                    Sander Rossel
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    Good one, will do!

                    Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • D David ONeil

                      If she can't think of anything in response to Maximilien's question, ask her what her favorite topic is, and then show her how she can organize that info through a database, or with objects. She can teach you something new as you help her!

                      The forgotten roots of science | C++ Programming | DWinLib

                      Sander RosselS Offline
                      Sander RosselS Offline
                      Sander Rossel
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      Good advice, will ask :thumbsup:

                      Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • R RossMW

                        Are you sure its the programming she interested it... hint hint..

                        A Fine is a Tax for doing something wrong A Tax is a Fine for doing something good.

                        Sander RosselS Offline
                        Sander RosselS Offline
                        Sander Rossel
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        Yeah, pretty sure, she's happily married :laugh:

                        Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R RickZeeland

                          Maybe one of these: best-resources-for-a-programming-beginner-to-learn-c[^]

                          Sander RosselS Offline
                          Sander RosselS Offline
                          Sander Rossel
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          Do you have stock in that company?

                          Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                          R 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter

                            If she is smart she will do the learning thing alone (or pick alone the route at least)... As you not actually going to teach her programming, you should show her the possibilities - how versatile computer programming is... Do not waste your (and her) time on 'Hello World'-like things... Make her hungry, move her imagination... If she is any good the rest will come...

                            "The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012

                            Sander RosselS Offline
                            Sander RosselS Offline
                            Sander Rossel
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote:

                            As you not actually going to teach her programming

                            If I could teach people how to program in an afternoon I'd be rich! :laugh: People often struggle to get started though, so at least I want to do that, and in that case getting her to write Hello World is great as it'll be something :D But on to the cool stuff after that! :thumbsup:

                            Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                            D 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                              Do you have stock in that company?

                              Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                              R Offline
                              R Offline
                              RickZeeland
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              Ok, as you don't seem to appreciate my suggestions this is the last time I will try to help you. Goodbye !

                              Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                                Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote:

                                As you not actually going to teach her programming

                                If I could teach people how to program in an afternoon I'd be rich! :laugh: People often struggle to get started though, so at least I want to do that, and in that case getting her to write Hello World is great as it'll be something :D But on to the cool stuff after that! :thumbsup:

                                Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                                D Offline
                                D Offline
                                David ONeil
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #20

                                Sander Rossel wrote:

                                If I could teach people how to program in an afternoon I'd be rich!

                                I've got it down to two hours! Enjoy your cash! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: (+ :tongueincheek: )

                                The forgotten roots of science | C++ Programming | DWinLib

                                Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • R RickZeeland

                                  Ok, as you don't seem to appreciate my suggestions this is the last time I will try to help you. Goodbye !

                                  Sander RosselS Offline
                                  Sander RosselS Offline
                                  Sander Rossel
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #21

                                  Come on man, I didn't mean it like that. In fact, I was just looking at Hackr.io because it was on top and you left some pros. It's just that you link to that website just a bit too much to just be an enthusiast.

                                  Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                                  R 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • D David ONeil

                                    Sander Rossel wrote:

                                    If I could teach people how to program in an afternoon I'd be rich!

                                    I've got it down to two hours! Enjoy your cash! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: (+ :tongueincheek: )

                                    The forgotten roots of science | C++ Programming | DWinLib

                                    Sander RosselS Offline
                                    Sander RosselS Offline
                                    Sander Rossel
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #22

                                    I scrolled through the article and now I'm fluent in C++ :D

                                    Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                                    D 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                                      A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

                                      Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                                      G Offline
                                      G Offline
                                      GuyThiebaut
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #23

                                      People have different learning styles and preferences. So I would let her drive the learning or ask her how she likes to learn as she is a teacher and probably understands different learning styles. As a personal preference I always like to learn by having a project that I cannot possibly complete with my current level of knowledge. That way I have a goal and the goal forces me to learn what I need to learn in order to reach that goal. Scratch is a great learning environment for basic principles, I would generally suggest it as a good place to start from then from there move onto something like C# and a calculator application. You might even be onto things like the shunting yard algorithm, for parsing basic mathematical formulae, in a couple of months if your student is really bright.

                                      “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

                                      ― Christopher Hitchens

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                                        I scrolled through the article and now I'm fluent in C++ :D

                                        Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                                        D Offline
                                        D Offline
                                        David ONeil
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #24

                                        :thumbsup: I'm happy for you. It really is an easy language underneath it all! :laugh:

                                        The forgotten roots of science | C++ Programming | DWinLib

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                                          A friend of mine is thinking about a career change and she was thinking about programming. She's freaking smart, got multiple degrees, among which psychology. She's currently a primary school teacher, she loves the kids, but she dislikes lots of other things. So I'd like to show her some programming stuff, mostly that it's not that hard to learn (but impossible to master) and it's easy to get into. I'd like to start with some WinForms because it's very easy to grasp (it's how I got started) and then move on to some web programming. Just some C# and then JavaScript and HTML and CSS, probably a bit of SQL as well. The goal is to give her an idea about programming, what it is and how it works. I could even show her some production code. I'm not going to show her stuff like C or Python, simply because I don't know it myself. So, within the constraints of .NET and a fun afternoon, is there anything I absolutely should or should not show her? Looking for a sort of curriculum or idea, like a to-do list.

                                          Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          paulcookie
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #25

                                          If you are using winforms, why not build a calculator application. Very simple, easy to get working and will show a few fundamentals.

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