From: "Matthew K. Williams" <matt@...>
Date: 2010-04-06T02:48:56+09:00
Subject: Re: Novice school teacher seeking help in programming

On Tue, 6 Apr 2010, Hilary Bailey wrote:

> Richard Conroy wrote:
>> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 4:36 PM, Hilary Bailey
>> <my77elephants@gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>>> Perhaps this book is more appropriate for an absolute beginner?
>>>>
>>>> http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram
>>>>
>>>> Jesus.
>>>
>>> Jesus, the book is just as similar to Beginning Ruby From Novice to
>>> Professional. Do i have to learn C and or C++ before even thinking of
>>> using Ruby or attempting to write a software?
>>>
>>>
>> Are we talking about the same book? I am trying to recall any mention of
>> C or C++ in Learn to Program whatsoever, unless it was placing it in
>> context.
>>
>> You might want to look out for Shoes, or the Hackety Hack Ruby
>> extensions.
>> They use Ruby as a baseline. but simplify it further specifically for
>> helping
>> beginners & kids to learn programming.
>
> On pgs 296 and 297. There is not clarity as how to use the million of
> concepts. Someone recommended to abandon Ruby and go directly to Ruby on
> Rails, as it offers more flexibility while learning Ruby and also Rails.

I'm confused -- can you point to an url in the online Learn to Program 
book?  (http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram) Or is pp 296-297 in the other book?

Also, what do you mean as there being no clarity as how to use the million 
of concepts?  The Learn To Program book has, as I recall, a lot of little 
exercises to help you with applying the information in each chapter.

Or is it more an issue of not knowing where/how to start and what to use 
where/when?

Matt