Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!topaz.rutgers.edu!brandx.rutgers.edu!webber
From: webber@brandx.rutgers.edu.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: IntroOnSmallComputers (Re: Using assembly lang... what about Scheme?)
Message-ID: <254@brandx.rutgers.edu>
Date: Wed, 10-Jun-87 03:03:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: brandx.254
Posted: Wed Jun 10 03:03:53 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jun-87 03:40:55 EDT
References: <4460@iuvax.UUCP>
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 31
Summary: small computers bad idea for intro students

In article <4460@iuvax.UUCP>, emo@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu writes:
> From: Eric Ost <emo@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
> I am wondering how many people are using the programming language Scheme
> in introductory computer science and electrical engineering courses?

We aren't yet, but Abelson and Sussman's Structure and Interpretation
of Computer Programs makes one wonder why not.  I am still trying to
figure out what this book would mean to someone who didn't already
know Computer Science.

> In addition, what types of hardware are, or would be, used for such
> a course?  Are CS departments aware of the (ever lowering) low-cost
> of systems such as those offered by Commodore, Atari, Apple, and others?
> Might these not make perfect programming environments for beginning
> computer science and electrical engineering students?

The cost effectiveness of micros is not a well kept secret.  We use
tons of Macs for low level students.  The big problems, from my point
of view, are: 1) No mail or bboards since students don't have accounts,
just disks; 2) Students are not exposed to computer system documentation;
and 3) Too much of the machine is hidden from the students (some of them
develope some very weird hypotheses about what is going on when they
run a program).  Introducing them to Unix as juniors is REAL FUN :-)

Of course these things could be fixed.  But then the micros become
less cost effective and `real' computers start looking more
reasonable.  Of course, this is being typed on an Apple IIc emulating
a Vt100, so there clearly are uses for micros (plays a decent game of
chess for one so small too).

------- BOB (webber@aramis.rutgers.edu ; rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!webber)