Introductory programming course have two very specific difficulties for novice students. First is the lack use of real world examples in the sessions. It is very difficult to find areas of application where all the students are familiar enough and that offers challenging and engaging examples. Second is the lack of palpable examples of the job done. Introductory courses in other fields generate products that the students can show to others, and feel proud about it. In CS1, for example, explaining cycles by printing a series of numbers on the screen doesn't yield the same sense of ac-complishment as drawing a basic perspective in an archi-tecture class. We propose using Project Hoshimi [1], a Microsoft Platform, as a base for introducing computer programming to CS1 students. Through the paper we dis-cuss the main advantages and disadvantages in our experi-ence of using Project Hoshimi, comparing its use against other more traditional approaches, as well as against other graphic programming methods such as Alice or videogame based learning.

4. Scenario Characters Objetive
Destroy viruses
Illnes Body Nanobots Delivery cure
It is a Scenario with well defined objectives
needed Strategy
Alive Score Navigate
Maintain the Destroy enemies Achieve a mission
nanoAlive Build Injection Points
Collect AZN

6. G generation (visual and graphical environments)
Competition (scoring & winning)
Tangible products
Clasical Visual Approach Videogames
Approach
Visual Visual Using and/or
Programming Environment Developing
Java Languajes
RoboLab by Alice Age of Empires
Lego

7. A loooooooot of theory and fundamentals
Long learning curve
Process:
Samples + Language + Homework = Frustration
Results:
Meaningless
Useless code
Intangible
Isolated from the real world
BOOOOOORING

8. Uses logical deduction and spatial reasoning
rather than calculation and algebraic reasoning
Based on incremental learning
Attractive and easy graphical environment
Visual Programming Languages
RoboLab ® Lego
Visual Environments
Alice
Results:
Student is isolated from the coding process
No resemblance to the previous knowledge

9. Very cool
3D graphical environment
Competition Win
Results:
Students work harder – learn more
To simple (Boring) or to complex (Frustration)
Not always feasible for CS1 students
Used in PL, computer graphics, IA.

10. Visual Project
Video gamming
Approach Hoshimi
3D environment

11. Visual Project
Video gamming
Approach Hoshimi
Interested A 3D environment
students
They work hard coding Coding intelligence
Learn more
A 3D environment
use it
with a context
for more
Increasing coding and Than one curse
challenge

12. student has to invest time learning
make his time useless!
Useless will cause frustration
It is desirable to use it for more than one
semester and use it in extra academic projects

14. CS 1

18. Scenario
Teachers Students
create / select solve
Grows in complexity
Develop different
skills
by by
across the
curricula
Combining Creating a strategy
lessons with Click to play or
practice Coding

21. CS1 High School
Motivation &
Creativity
Team
Work
Fancy
Graphics
Difficulty
Programming
About
C# and VB

23. www.projecthoshimi.com
web site
blogs
forums
tutorials
references
www.microsoft4me.com/faculty
papers
www.imaginecup.com
contest