EDUCATION FORUM Going Backwards Introductory Programming LAnguages I'm teaching the introductory computer science course this semester. I'm also t e ~ h i u g the graduate theory course. These courses at opposite ends of the curriculum are two of m y favorite; together they provide a unique perspective on our discipline. On the one h a n d are aspiring computer science students learning programming, but who must also slowly become aware of the theoretical bounds and limitations of the very practice of programming upon which they are embarking. On the other hand are graduate students, veteran programmers who are taking a deeper look into that very theory. We would like to present the beginners with the very best our discipline has to offer with respect to programming and programming language concepts, just as we want the graduate students to learn the most recent and relevant knowledge about the theory of computing. How are we doing? The Introductory ProgrAmm|ug Language There is one twist to this semester. We have switched introductory programming languages are starting students in their first course with Java. Having looked at Java before and now having presented it to budding students for half
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