The TclTk Curriculum Unit

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The Tcl/Tk Curriculum Unit

• Introducing Programming through User Interface
  Design

Celine Latulipe, Sandy Graham and Maggie Dulat
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What is Tcl/Tk?

• Simple scripting language
• Free!
• Available for Windows, Macs, UNIX, etc.
• Great for creating GUIs
• Uses hierarchical structure

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Why a curriculum unit?

• Designed to fulfil the programming component of
  the Grade 9 IT course
• Could also be used for
• introducing programming at Grade 10 level
• as an enrichment activity at Grades 7 8 levels

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The Curriculum Unit

• 7 units, 17 lessons (30-45 minutes each)
• Introduces
• constants and variables
• GUI design menus, buttons, etc.
• repetition of code, modularity, procedures
• control structures if statements, for loops
• style issues commenting, indenting, etc.

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How It Works

• Students are given a very simple script in first
  unit, make a few changes to it
• In Unit 2, students are given the drawing program
  script, the rest of the lessons build on this
  more complex program
• At the end, keen students can do independent
  projects, either building on the drawing program
  or trying other things