Xref: utzoo comp.theory:2094 comp.lang.modula2:4032
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!ucla-cs!ucla-ma!allen
From: allen@sonia.math.ucla.edu
Newsgroups: comp.theory,comp.lang.modula2
Subject: Use of Modula2 in University Education
Keywords: Modula2, teaching
Message-ID: <1991Jun7.224720.14037@math.ucla.edu>
Date: 7 Jun 91 22:47:20 GMT
Sender: allen@MATH.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: allen@MATH.UCLA.EDU ()
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Lines: 41

Hello,

  At UCLA Math (Program in Computing), we are currently in the process
of considering a new language for the teaching of programming.
Currently, we use Berkeley Pascal for our introductory and intermediate
programming classes, and use C for the "advanced" segment of the
sequence.  The switch to C is something of a problem, since the
instructor spends several weeks of the quarter getting the students up
to speed with a new language before getting into really interesting
stuff.

  One of the languages which we are considering to replace Pascal (and
C) is Modula-2 (we are considering other languages as well).  However,
we don't have a whole lot of facts available about the use of Modula-2
in other places, though we know it is more popular in Europe than here
in the US.

  What I would like is comments from educators who have had experience
using Modula-2 in their curricula regarding its strengths and
weaknesses, and subjective perceptions of the use of the language
as a pedantic tool.  I would also appreciate input from programmers who
use (or have used) Modula-2 professionally.  

  Please address e-mail responses to

	       allen@math.ucla.edu

  and do not respond to this posting via News.  If you have trouble
  sending your response to the address above, try

	       allen@pic.ucla.edu


Many thanks in advance for your assistance.

--Bill Allen
--UCLA Math, Program in Computing

--------------
C:  A middle-level programming language which combines the power
    of assembly language with the readability of assembly language.