[Edu-sig] programming skills and IQ tests..

[Andy Judkis]

I think this is a really interesting topic.  I've been teaching a 
general "here's how computers work" class to all the 10th graders in my 
school for about 6 years now.  Like Jurgis, I find that about 30% of the 
kids just don't get it.  I'm just resigned to that, and my goal is to 
have them not HATE it, and to have at least an understanding of why 
other people like it.

I went to the opera for the first time last week, it was Der Fliegende 
Hollander, at the Met.  Over 2 hours without an intermission.  Not my 
cup of tea.  At the end of it the woman in front of us was sobbing, I 
thought it was tears of relief that it was finally over but my wife says 
that she was deeply moved by the story.  Needless to say, I'm not in a 
hurry to go back, but even so I'm glad to have gone once.  I think that 
programming is like that for some people -- they'll never love it, but 
it's still a good thing to have experienced.

Cheers,
Andy