Alice in Programmingland
INSTRUCTOR(S): Randy Hoitink, Neenah
High School, Neenah, WI
GRADE LEVEL: 6-12
SUBJECT: Technology
Beginning programmers often get
frustrated and discouraged, because
they first have to master the
detailed rules of the language just
to create something that will run at
all. When they finally do get
every bracket and semicolon in
place, first programs usually do
little more than display a message
(like "Hello World!")
Alice was developed to change all
that. It's an engaging,
easy-to-learn programming
environment that makes it easy for
beginners to create programs that
manipulate all kinds of interesting
characters and objects in a
three-dimensional world of their own
making. It's part programming
and part movie directing.
Interactive programs (like games)
are also easy to create. The
"smart" drag-and-drop interface
doesn't allow syntax errors, so
students can proceed with
confidence. While Alice makes
it easy to get stated, though, the
sky's the limit from there. It
challenges and engages students at a
wide range of levels, easily
allowing them to work at their own
pace while they ALL have FUN!
Participants will be able to create
several projects that they can take
with them. I will also share
lots of project ideas for students,
rubrics for grading, Alice
installation disks, and lots of
other great resources.
Alice could be used for a complete
semester-long course, or just as an
outstanding addition to several
types of already-existing courses.
*High School: As a short (semester
or 9-week) Introduction to
Programming course, or as the first
portion of a CS1 course.
Middle School: As a unit in an
existing "Technology Education"
course. There is even a
version called "Storytelling Alice"
meant specifically for middle
school, and intended to be more
appealing especially (though
certainly not exclusively) to girls.
We can explore this version as well,
if there is interest in doing so.
So, while this course would be ideal
for anyone looking for ways to make
programming classes more
stimulating, no prior programming
experience is required*just a desire
to learn and share this skill with
students!
Wisconsin State Teacher Standards
Addressed: 1,3,4,6,10
Wisconsin Model Academic Standards
Addressed: Mathematics A,B,C,D,E;
Science D,G; Information &
Technology A, B,C,D
