Matija Lokar, Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko, Univerza v Ljubljani

In recent years most developed societies have realized that it is essential for all the students to acquire algorithmic way of thinking and knowledge of the basics of programming. By learning about computer concepts and developing procedural way of thinking students acquire knowledge and skills that are much more durable than the rapidly evolving technology.

However, it should be considered very carefully how to begin teaching programming – what first steps are appropriate. The paper will present a number of ways that can serve. In doing so, we are avoiding the standard approach – a problem, writing the code, compiling and executing on a computer. We will see teaching programming concepts without the use of a computer and via computer games such as Robozzle, LightBoot and the like. We will highlight what software concepts are learned this way. In addition, we will see how the fact that students are avid users of mobile devices can be made use of, and how they can be taught to write software for mobile phones in an environment similar to Scratch. We will present a set of materials that have been developed at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and have already been successfully used in seminars for teachers.