I took CS in high school all the way to AP CS my senior year. My advice when it comes to teaching kids CS comes from my own biased experience.
I'd say it's important to focus on the fundamentals of CS. Things like problem solving by splitting up a task in smaller chunks. My last year of CS in HS we learned C++ but we didn't start using computers until we all had a firm grasp on algorithms by feeding our teacher instructions like putting on a shirt or making a PBJ sandwich. We had to present the steps while he stood at the front of the classroom acting them out. We spent about a month going to exercises like that. Eventually we translated those learnings into algorithms we wrote in C++.
During my first years learning CS, we developed both typing skills and copying and pasting code pieces from different sources. We didn't work much with web tech because Flash and ActionScript 1 ruled the world. But we took Visual Basic code and learned how to use if/else control statements to control the flow of our applications.
I wish we had learned more about Linux/Unix while in school. I really wish I had more exposure to the history of CS. I predominately work with Linux-flavored operating systems today. Although the skills of problem solving and taking source code apart and recompiling it into something original was I think the launch pad for my career in tech today.
I'll echo the sentiments of others when they say, having something they can show off will help. But I would also suggest that it's important to keep in mind that that is more of a personality trait than anything else. I think it's also a good idea for students to try to solve their own problems either with code directly or indirectly. For instance, an algorithm for them to use outside of class to possibly solve a problem without code or a computer.
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I took CS in high school all the way to AP CS my senior year. My advice when it comes to teaching kids CS comes from my own biased experience.
I'd say it's important to focus on the fundamentals of CS. Things like problem solving by splitting up a task in smaller chunks. My last year of CS in HS we learned C++ but we didn't start using computers until we all had a firm grasp on algorithms by feeding our teacher instructions like putting on a shirt or making a PBJ sandwich. We had to present the steps while he stood at the front of the classroom acting them out. We spent about a month going to exercises like that. Eventually we translated those learnings into algorithms we wrote in C++.
During my first years learning CS, we developed both typing skills and copying and pasting code pieces from different sources. We didn't work much with web tech because Flash and ActionScript 1 ruled the world. But we took Visual Basic code and learned how to use if/else control statements to control the flow of our applications.
I wish we had learned more about Linux/Unix while in school. I really wish I had more exposure to the history of CS. I predominately work with Linux-flavored operating systems today. Although the skills of problem solving and taking source code apart and recompiling it into something original was I think the launch pad for my career in tech today.
I'll echo the sentiments of others when they say, having something they can show off will help. But I would also suggest that it's important to keep in mind that that is more of a personality trait than anything else. I think it's also a good idea for students to try to solve their own problems either with code directly or indirectly. For instance, an algorithm for them to use outside of class to possibly solve a problem without code or a computer.