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From: tlh@arthur.cs.purdue.edu.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: How to teach computers
Message-ID: <882@arthur.cs.purdue.edu>
Date: Tue, 27-Jan-87 20:37:56 EST
Article-I.D.: arthur.882
Posted: Tue Jan 27 20:37:56 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Jan-87 06:46:50 EST
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Organization: Department of Computer Science, Purdue University
Lines: 16
Keywords: multiple languages


   Steve Barber didn't think that a multiple language approach was 
   the way to go in a beginning class because "it is far better to
   be proficient in something, that to be acquainted with everything..."
   with regard to programming.

   I am only speaking from my own experience, but I feel that being exposed
   to unconventional languages in an undergraduate programming languages
   course IS the way to go.  It breaks undergraduates out of their Pascal
   (and gads BASIC) mindsets and introduces the fact that first problems
   are solved then a choice is made in what language to implement the
   solutions.  Also, I think that when the time comes for comparative
   programming languages, students are generally quite proficient in
   a conventional language.

   Tom