SMALL BASIC FOR KIDS is an illustrated introduction to computer programming that provides an interactive, parent/teacher facilitated tutorial to the new Microsoft Small Basic programming environment. The book consists of 30 short lessons that explain how to create and run a Small Basic program. Students learn about program design and many elements of the Small Basic language. Numerous examples are used to demonstrate every step in the building process. The tutorial also includes two complete games for students to build and try - a text-based Hangman game and a simple Pizza Zapper video game.
SMALL BASIC FOR KIDS is based a series of programming books published in the 1980s aimed at teaching kids how to use the Basic programming language. Titles like "Kids and the Apple II," "Kids and the Commodore 64," and "Kids and the IBM-PC" were sold everywhere. These books sold over 700,000 copies! With permission and editorial help from the original author, Dr. Edward H. Carlson, we have adapted this classic programming book to the new Microsoft Small Basic language - a language aimed at encouraging kids to learn programming.
SMALL BASIC FOR KIDS should be understandable to kids aged 8+ and is suitable for both home and classroom use. Notes for both the instructor or parent and the students are provided. Assignments are given to test student knowledge. No programming experience is necessary, but familiarity with doing common tasks using Windows is expected.
SMALL BASIC FOR KIDS requires a Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Small Basic 1.0 or higher.
Philip Conrod has authored, co-authored and edited over two dozen computer programming books and tutorials over the past 30 years. Philip holds a Certificate in Computer Programming for Business from WarrenTech, a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems and a Master's certificate in the Essentials of Business Development from Regis University. Philip has held Information Technology leadership roles in companies like Sundstrand Aerospace, Safeco Insurance, FamilyLife, Kenworth Truck Company, and PACCAR Inc. Today, Philip serves as the Chief Information Officer for large manufacturing company based in Seattle, Washington. In his spare time, Philip still enjoys writing and publishing computer programming books for students and he serves as the President of Kidware Software. Kidware Software LLC publishes computer programming books and tutorials under the trade names of KIDware, Kidware Software, BibleByte Books and ComputerScienceForKids.com.
Lou Tylee holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering. Lou has been programming computers since 1969 when he took his first Fortran course in college. He has written software to control suspensions for high speed ground vehicles, monitor nuclear power plants, lower noise levels in commercial jetliners, compute takeoff speeds for jetliners, locate and identify air and ground traffic and to let kids count bunnies, learn how to spell and do math problems. He has written several on-line texts teaching Visual Basic, Visual C# and Java to thousands of people. He taught a beginning Visual Basic course for over 15 years at a major university. Currently, Lou works as an engineer at a major Seattle aerospace firm. Lou and his family live in Seattle, Washington.