Abstract:

Programming is a demanding, cognitive and highly creative process. Building solid foundations from programming and developing algorithmic thinking requires a systematic approach and persistent work according to the principle: You can only learn to program by programming. The principle applies that program = algorithm + data structures. For someone who has developed algorithmic and programming thinking, coding the solution procedure should not be a problem – writing the program according to the syntactic rules of a higher programming language should not be hard. Expressing the exact solution procedure according to the rules of the used tool requires a certain discipline and consistency, which also applies when expressing the program according to the syntax of the programming language.

When to start learning programming? How to teach programming and not screw anything up? Which programming paradigm to choose first? What programming language, or programming environment to choose for beginning programmers? The author of the article seeks answers to these and similar questions. He will share with the reader his several decades of experience in teaching programming at all levels of the educational system.

Keywords:

Programming, first programming language, programming environment, programming teaching and learning.