Introducing python into the first year curriculum at wits

ABSTRACT

Since 1999 the School of Computer Science (CS) at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) has been using Scheme as the first programming language our students encounter [2]. We chose Scheme because it is a language unfamiliar to most of the first year students, so that the students with imperative programming experience from school would not have an advantage over those who did not. Also, it has a simple syntax which we felt that students without prior programming experience could easily learn. Finally, the functional paradigm allows a more direct mapping of mathematical concepts to programs, which fits with the mathematical emphasis in our curriculum.

REFERENCES

• 1: B. Kumwenda, S. Rauchas, and I. Sanders. The effect of prior programming experience in a Scheme-based breadth-first curriculum. Technical report, School of Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2006.
• 2: Ian Sanders , Conrad Mueller, A fundamentals-based curriculum for first year computer science, Proceedings of the thirty-first SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.227-231, March 07-12, 2000, Austin, Texas, United States

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:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications
          Subjects: Multiparadigm languages; Applicative (functional) languages
          Nouns: SCHEME; Python

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Human Factors, Languages

Keywords:
imperative, programming experience, recursion, schools