If you want to learn programming ... I think you may want to actually learn on something other than the robot.
The robot introduces alot of extra stuff that doesn't really help in getting people to think like programmers.
I suggest using either Python or Ruby. These will make it easier to write simple command line programs and start thinking logically. They are very easy syntactically, there is no compiler or useless overhead stuff needed either.
Just download the interpreters at :
http://www.python.org
or
http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/
I'd also suggest getting a book on it.
Once you can do simple (or complicated programs) move over to C. As far as programs ... just make stuff you want... try making a simple board game or something.
-Salik