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Shouldn't a threshold for "good job, you're doing it right" be a bit higher, than an iPhone game or an image processing module?

Like launching your code into space? Or solving a major machine learning challenge?

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Well, if we have to write computer programs for our own brains, I suppose the rule should be that the level of praise should be based on a combination of the usefulness of the project combined with the effort that went in to it. Usefulness because it is good to know how to find out what people want, and effort because kids have a very hard time sticking to stuff for extended durations.

Why?

Very simple. A threshold for an outstanding achievement by a school kid is a solid, noteworthy, postgraduate level work.

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