Hey Neighbors!
Do you have a student who likes to work on computers? I do! My 15 year old LOVES to design sites, make buttons, headers and such. So when TOS offered the chance to review Computer Science for Kids, we were excited. We chose the Beginning Microsoft Small Basic. Some of the other crew members reviewed the Computer Bible Game for Microsoft Small Basic. We received the Internet Download, which is normally $59.95, but is on sale from now until July 4th for $34.95.
My daughter has been doing this program 3 days a week. She is really enjoying herself. I haven't had to step in and help her at all. The one time she asked for help I leaned over her shoulder to see what she was doing and she figured it out before I was even able to read two lines of what she typed. she works on her lessons and then calls me over when she is finished so I can watch what she has accomplished.
When you visit their site you can view the Table of Contents and view a sample chapter. Through learning the Small Basic language she has been able to design small programs that perform on her laptop. By completing this course your child will learn programs to create a savings calculator, a state capitals game, Tic Tac Toe and others.
There are 11 Chapters in the Small Basics Program. They are:
1. Introducing Small Basic
2. Small Basic Program Basics
3. Your First Small Basic Program
4. Small Basic Program Designs, Input Methods
5. Debugging, Decisions, Random Numbers
6. Small Basic Looping, Subroutines
7. More Small Basic Looping, Arrays
8. Small Basic Graphics, Mouse Methods
9. Timers, Animation, Keyboard Methods
10. More Programs
11.Introduction to Advanced Programming Languages
It is expected for your child to do one chapter a week, which should take approx. 3-6 hours.
My daughter pulled up two windows, and flipped back and forth between the two. It did not slow her down or seem to hinder what she was doing. If you have access to an iPad it might be easier to have the lessons on there and then allow your child to do the work on your computer. Of course you could just purchase the program with the physical book and download. You would have to decide which would work better for your family.
The program itself was easy to download and run. The system requirements are:
The course requires XP-SP2, Vista, or Windows 7, ability to view and print documents saved in Microsoft Word format, and the Microsoft Small Basic development environment (Version 0.9 or higher).
I do recommend this program. With the dependency on computers it would be beneficial for your children to have an understanding of basic computer language and programming.
Be sure to stop by and see what other Crew members have to say about the two programs.
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