"Python first": a lab-based digital introduction to computer science

ABSTRACT

The emphasis on Java and other commercial languages in CS1 has established the perception of computer science as a dry and technically difficult discipline among undecided students who are still seeking careers. This may not be a big problem during an enrolment boom, but in times of decreased enrolment such negative perception may have a devastating effect on computer science programs and therefore should not be ignored. We have made our CS1 course offerings more attractive to students (1) by introducing an easy to learn yet effective scripting language - Python, (2) by making all course resources available in a comprehensive online study pack, and (3) by offering an extensive set of detailed and easy to follow self-guided labs. Our custom-designed online study pack comprises a wealth of new, original learning modules: extensive e-texts, detailed self-guided labs, numerous sample programs, quizzes, and slides. Our recent student survey demonstrates that students like and prefer Python as a first language and that they also percept the online study pack as very beneficial. Our "Python First" course, originally required for computer science majors, has been so well received that it has been recently approved as a general education science elective, thus opening new recruitment opportunities for the computer science major. Our "Python First" digital pack is published online at http://studypack.com.

REFERENCES

• 1: Caitlin Kelleher , Randy Pausch, Lowering the barriers to programming: A taxonomy of programming environments and languages for novice programmers, ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), v.37 n.2, p.83-137, June 2005 [doi>10.1145/1089733.1089734]
• 2: Essi Lahtinen , Kirsti Ala-Mutka , Hannu-Matti Järvinen, A study of the difficulties of novice programmers, Proceedings of the 10th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education, June 27-29, 2005, Caparica, Portugal
• 3: Qusay H. Mahmoud , Wlodek Dobosiewicz , David Swayne, Redesigning introductory computer programming with HTML, JavaScript, and Java, Proceedings of the 35th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, March 03-07, 2004, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
• 4: Radenski, A. Introduction to Computing with Python. http://www.studypack.com.
• 5: Radenski, A. Object-Oriented Computing with Java. http://www.studypack.com.
• 6: Rossum G. van. Computer programming for everybody. http://www.python.org/doc/essays/cp4e.html
• 7: Christine Shannon, Another breadth-first approach to CS I using python, Proceedings of the 34th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, February 19-23, 2003, Reno, Navada, USA
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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Distance learning
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Human Factors, Languages

Keywords:
CS1, CS2, Java, OOP, Python, online study pack, self-guided lab