What basic programming language would you suggest? I started with Visual Basic, and I found that it really didn't prepare me for programming in general. It seems like the best combination of useful and easy would be either Python or bash, but I'm sure other people can come up with better suggestions.
I think the key is to find something that's teachable to people completely new at programming, but something that will be useful to them. I was thinking of Python due to it just feeling "natural" to me, at least after coming from VB and then Java. Bash is somewhat of a weird choice (especially considering most students aren't going to be using Linux), but I was thinking about that due to it being useful for immediate computer tasks, but it may not be enough of a "real programming language". I wish Windows had a good equivalent scripting language...
I'd start with Python. Try to figure out how to do one thing that you think would be cool w/ python. Like learning to play the guitar by learning a song you like.
Really it depends on what you want to do...but Python is widely used in science, finance, math, and the web (thru django). So that covers all of what I'd want. And it's a high-level (read: easy), widely used (read: supported) language.
If I were just starting out I'd use zed shaw's book. As it was I found the django tutorial good; and Norman Matloff's tutorial on scientific python.
I'd learn programming in linux. Install Ubuntu if you don't already use linux. You can dual boot and leave the windows side for video games.
I think the key is to find something that's teachable to people completely new at programming, but something that will be useful to them. I was thinking of Python due to it just feeling "natural" to me, at least after coming from VB and then Java. Bash is somewhat of a weird choice (especially considering most students aren't going to be using Linux), but I was thinking about that due to it being useful for immediate computer tasks, but it may not be enough of a "real programming language". I wish Windows had a good equivalent scripting language...