学习任何东西最好的方法就是从基础开始。你可以找到任何一本好的教科书来解释什么是编程，内存，算法。

下一步选择语言，这取决于老师知道什么或者学生为什么想学。

然后就是代码，代码，代码。对书中的每个例子进行编码。然后稍微改变它来做另一个动作。学习编程是一个主动的过程，而不是被动的过程。你不能只读了Dietal写的c++如何编程，然后就指望在阅读时不主动地编写c++代码。

即使你是一个有经验的程序员，写书中的代码来学习一些新东西也会有帮助。

其他几个起步平台:

一个好的可编程计算器(这是我在70年代学到的)，HP25, HP41，现在TI69等等。 像“Inform 7”这样的互动小说平台提供了另一种视角 Flash / ActionScript

所有这些都是不同的，引人入胜的，其中任何一个都可能激发一种兴趣，这是跑步初学者所必需的。

LBB

如果你想教授编程的基础知识，而不是特定语言，有一个叫Scratch的应用程序是在麻省理工学院创建的。它旨在帮助人们培养编程技能。当用户创建Scratch项目时，他们学会了创建条件、循环等。还有一个scratch项目社区，可以从那里下载项目——这样你就可以探索其他人的程序，看看他们是如何构建的。

我认为“群体智慧”在这里起作用。大多数人是如何学习编程的?许多人声称他们是通过复制别人的程序来做到这一点的，通常是他们想用BASIC语言玩的游戏。

也许这条路对他也有用?

There have already been a bunch of great answers, but for an absolute beginner, I would wholeheartedly recommend Hackety Hack. It was created by the unreasonably prolific why_the_lucky_stiff specifically to provide a BASIC/LOGO/Pascal-like environment for new programmers to experiment in. It's essentially a slick Ruby IDE with some great libraries (flash video, IM, web server) and interactive lessons. It makes a good pitch for programming, as it chose lessons that do fun, useful things. "Hello, world" may not impress right off the bat, but creating a custom IM client in 20 minutes can inspire someone to keep learning. Have fun!

I would recommend also watching some screencasts - they are generally created in context of a specific technology not a language, though if there's Python code displayed, that'll do :). The point is - they're created by some good programmers and watching how good programmers program is a good thing. You and your brother could do some peer programming as well, that might be an even better idea. Just don't forget to explain WHY you do something this way and not that way. I think the best way to learn programming is from good examples and try not to even see the bad ones.