I've build with them a robot mask from a cardboard box. (fun!)
Put on the mask and told them that the robot is stupid, just understands 2 commands: step forward and turn right.
Put them to teach the robot to go around the room. Asked how to make the robot turn left. Created a command to turn left. Abstraction! Simplified some commands with loops.
Agreed 1000%, the article just seem to overcomplicate things, why talk about processors, discs, binary? This is ridiculous!
All children can relate to physical movement and giving commands, lets start there! It's like we're throwing all the knowledge we got from Logo over board (2017 is Logo's 50th birthday!)
I've done this before, this is the perfect way to illustrate EVERYTHING about programming, even engineering. Explaining sensors, input/output (keyboard), how it has no way to sense how or whether or not it's even moved forward. The robot just does.
I've build with them a robot mask from a cardboard box. (fun!) Put on the mask and told them that the robot is stupid, just understands 2 commands: step forward and turn right.
Put them to teach the robot to go around the room. Asked how to make the robot turn left. Created a command to turn left. Abstraction! Simplified some commands with loops.
We all had a good time.