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From: laura@hoptoad.uucp (Laura Creighton)
Newsgroups: net.lang.pascal,net.college
Subject: Re: pascal ass intro. language
Message-ID: <557@hoptoad.uucp>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 16:23:47 EST
Article-I.D.: hoptoad.557
Posted: Tue Feb 25 16:23:47 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 07:44:37 EST
References: <192@bu-cs.UUCP> <4253@ut-sally.UUCP>
Reply-To: laura@hoptoad.UUCP (Laura Creighton)
Organization: Nebula Consultants in San Francisco
Lines: 26
Xref: watmath net.lang.pascal:483 net.college:1135

In article <4253@ut-sally.UUCP> ark@sally.UUCP (Arthur M. Keller) writes:
>
>I have decided to step into the fray here.
>
>(1) The object of an introductory course that includes programming is to
>teach problem solving techniques using a computer.  Teaching a programming
>language is a necessary vehicle for this (unless you wish only to use
>canned programs, and even there you have some sort of language).

I am not sure that this is the actual goal of introductory programming courses.
I know introductory courses which teach ``what is a function'' and
``what is a loop'' and ``what is an if-then-else'' and ``what is
a linked list''.  For a great many people, especially those who have
only a passing interest in computer science but think that having ``a few
computer courses'' will help them be better economists (or whatever it
is that they *are* interested in) this is about all that they can handle.

I don't consider this ``problem solving'' -- just like learning how to
recognise and use a saw and hammer doesn't make you a carpenter.  I
also think that it is far more important to teach your course in a
language for which there is an excellent text book than to teach your
course in a ``better'' language.  
-- 
Laura Creighton		
ihnp4!hoptoad!laura  utzoo!hoptoad!laura  sun!hoptoad!laura
laura@lll-crg.arpa