Andrew Warren <fastfwd@IX.NETCOM.COM> wrote:
> In my opinion, PIC assembly language would ABSOLUTELY be suitable
> for 13-14 year old students.

I agree.  As it happens, I've taught some 12 year olds 6502 programming,
and the PIC would actually be easier to teach.

> The key thing, I think, is that the students must already be
> proficient in at least the basics of algebra... Without that
> knowledge, they'll find the concept of variables difficult to
> understand.

I'm not sure that I agree about the importance of prior algebra knowledge.  I
learned programming before algebra, and I didn't have any trouble grasping
variables.  After all, they are just a place to store a number.  In my
experience, the harder thing to teach is that numbers can be used to represent
things that don't "seem" to be numeric, i.e., characters.

> Also, they'll need to be fluent with the associative,
> commutative, and distributive properties of addition and
> multiplication.

Might be helpful, but it doesn't seem necessary.

> Additionally, a year of Algebra will have taught them how to
> transform a stated problem into a mathematical or logical solution,
> then to break it down into a progression of small steps in order to
> solve it.

This would definitely be helpful, but my experience is that most students take
naturally to the concept.

On the other hand, I've only tried to teach people that want to learn.  If
I had to teach programming to unmotivated people, I'd probably get frustrated
and give up in short order.

Fortunately, most young children do seem to want to learn, unless they've
been trained not to.

Cheers,
Eric