"A change of context is worth 60 IQ points"
(Alan kay)
So, I think that the first step towards requing the last third of the group will be to teach them
LOGO… yes LOGO
once people “get” for loops drawing squares and stars and circles etc. etc.
making the shift to other programming languages is easy.
If the curse requires OOP
then start with Smalltalk and Etoys.
They are intended for kids… but you are trying to build fundamental concepts here.
So, I think that the first step towards requing the last third of the group will be to teach them LOGO… yes LOGO once people “get” for loops drawing squares and stars and circles etc. etc. making the shift to other programming languages is easy.
If the curse requires OOP then start with Smalltalk and Etoys. They are intended for kids… but you are trying to build fundamental concepts here.
best of luck..