alice-teacher s Digest, Vol 54, Issue 11 - Should I start with v2 or just go right into v3?

[Robert Durtschi]

In my opinion Alice 2 and Alice 3 are, in effect two different products.  

Alice 2 is more oriented to someone that is interested in learning the basics of computer programming in a fun way. It's a bit easier to pick up and you  have the option of displaying instructions in native "Alice", which is easier to understand or in a Java like syntax. It's been around longer and as a result there are a lot more resources available including some freely downloadable workshops at Duke university.

Alice 3 is more oriented towards one who is interested in pursuing  a career in computer programming. It is more integrated with Java, one of the main programming languages used to develop web applications and can work with NetBeans, the freely downloadable Java IDE (Integrated Development Environment).  As I recall it was initially released a year or so ago, so doesn't have as extensive tutorials yet, although Oracle does have Alice training available for free on their website.

For home school I would lean towards Alice 2.4.2, the current Alice 2 version. I've been using it to introduce the concepts of computer  programming  to students at GCSU since 2010.  You can get an idea of its capabilities by searching Alice on YouTube. Most of the projects posted there are from Alice 2. You can also Google Alice to find several examples and lessons 

Bob Durtschi 
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:40:21 -0500
From: Michael Vizdos <mvizdos at gmail.com>
Subject: alice-teacher Question. Should I start with v2 or just go
        right   into v3?
To: alice-teachers at lists.andrew.cmu.edu
Message-ID:
        <CAMyfY1aULi0N4Yx6LnoGR0zL4++Pi8VBG=sa+++=LHxUSctxZA at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hi.

I am currently teaching my 11 year old (home school dad) and we are just
getting into v2.

Should we just jump into v3?

Why or why not?

Thank you.

Mike
www.michaelvizdos.com
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