[zmjjmz]

So having actually seen what Code.org's small hour of code assignment was (my sister in 6th grade had to do it), I can say that it's not as evil as you're making it out to be. For one, they're not taught a specific language -- they're given visual blocks to work with (and the ability to show the corresponding javascript).

I assume that without real instruction you're not going to learn the theory, and yes someone will have to advocate for OSS, but it seems that the goal is more basic -- not to pump kids full of impressions that 'this way is the only way' and 'just type code don't think no think'.

One thing I noticed more from my sister than the hour of code was that thought processes for programming that we take for granted haven't been implanted, and need to be taught. For example, my sister when faced with a path for the zombie to take would start by telling the zombie to move forwards many times then take a left... etc etc. Conditions and loops are introduced gradually and the idea that you would use a loop to do multiple things instead of just manually doing it is part of this. How should kids understand complex CS concepts without this? They need to start somewhere.

[dragonwriter]

Pedantic, perhaps, but:

> For one, they're not taught a specific language -- they're given visual blocks to work with (and the ability to show the corresponding javascript).

"Visual blocks" that are used to program would seem to make up a particular language, even if its not a textual language.