A fusion of reading and programming
The connection between programming and reading seems non-existing. Yet in the new reading book ‘De Programmeerbende’ they go together very well. On 26 February author Inge Strijker and co-inventor and computer scientist Felienne Hermans launched the book at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS).
Exciting story
‘If you want to learn how to program, you can find all kinds of things on the Internet. But before children start looking for it, you have to make them enthusiastic,' says Hermans, 'And that is exactly what we want to achieve with this book. It is not a textbook or schoolbook, but an exciting story in which children program and experience exciting adventures'.
Scratch
Professor of Data Science Aske Plaat opens the afternoon, after which the children immediately get to work with Scratch programming language. The special thing about the book is that children learn about computers and programming while reading it. The programs in the story can be programmed by the readers themselves in Scratch. Hermans gave a mini-workshop programming during the launch, in which the children were introduced to the computer language.
Dean Michiel Kreutzer emphasized the importance of computers and programming: 'You are already working a lot with computers now, which is only going to increase over the years,' says Kreutzer.
Author Inge Strijker read her favorite passage from the book, after which Professor of Science Communication Ionica Smeets and her son Tex received the first copy of the book.
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Author Inge Strijker and co-inventor Felienne Hermans with the book 'De Programmeerbende'. -
Both children and adults are programming during the mini-workshop given by Felienne Hermans. -
Enthusiastic faces during the mini-workshop programming. -
Dean Michiel Kreutzer talks about the importance of computers and programming. -
Author Inge Strijker reads her favorite part of the book to the audience. -
The first copy of 'De Programmeerbende' is handed to Ionica Smeets and her son Tex.
The main character of the book is a fictional version of Hermans in childhood. Hermans is Associate Professor of Programming Education at Leiden University. Inge Strijker, the author of 'De Programmerbende', is a researcher and lecturer at HBO-ICT at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences.
Curious about the book? It is available in several bookstores.