Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!news.glorb.com!news-out.readnews.com!transit4.readnews.com!panix!panix2.panix.com!not-for-mail From: cate3@panix.com (Henry Cate) Newsgroups: comp.lang.java.programmer Subject: Re: Recommendations for an online Introduction to programming using Java Date: 16 Dec 2013 19:01:49 -0500 Organization: PANIX -- Public Access Networks Corp. Lines: 59 Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: panix2.panix.com X-Trace: reader1.panix.com 1387238510 10005 166.84.1.2 (17 Dec 2013 00:01:50 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@panix.com NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:01:50 +0000 (UTC) Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.java.programmer:26955 In article , Jeff Higgins wrote: >On 12/16/2013 05:11 PM, Henry Cate wrote: >> I have a young teenage daughter who is interested >> in programming. She has been messing around with something >> on Kahn Academy's web site which uses Javascript. A friend >> of mine has a teenage son who is also interested in learning >> how to program. I would like to get them started with Java, >> but Google has 9.5 million hits for: "Introduction to >> programming in Java" >> >> Does anyone have recommendations for an online >> forum which teaches the basics of programming, using Java? >> >> I have read some of the current thread about what >> is teaching Java. Here is what I would like: >> >> Good introduction to real programming >> Teaches the basics - make no assumptions on what the student already knows >> Simple exercises to make sure they understand the concepts >> Online video would be nice >> Free would be nice >> >> >> If you have a strong recommendation for a good book, >> I would also appreciate that. (Amazon lists almost 800 books >> for the same pattern. >> >> > >Excellent Java book. Not an introduction to programming. > I agree. Core Java is an excellent book. I've bought two editions. Well worth the money. >Why Java? Have the children expressed an interest in Java? > Both children have expressed an interest in programming. At least in my daughters case I think part of it steams from wondering what her father does. I am tending towards Java because it is my strongest language and I like Java. Another reason I'm tending towards Java is I think it is a good language. I think the first language a person learns can influence how they think about all programming languages. My father jokes that he can program Fortran in ten different languages. If my daughter does become a programmer I'd like her to have solid programming practices down which I think are easier to learn in Java, than some other languages. -- ---------- Henry Cate cate3@panix.com "Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others." -- Jacob M. Braude Our blog: http://whyhomeschool.blogspot.com/