Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!amdahl!drivax!socha From: socha@drivax.UUCP (Henri J. Socha (socha)) Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc Subject: Re: Teaching object-oriented paradigm to beginners? Message-ID: <750@drivax.UUCP> Date: Fri, 9-Jan-87 14:26:28 EST Article-I.D.: drivax.750 Posted: Fri Jan 9 14:26:28 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 10-Jan-87 02:44:20 EST References: <4000001@nucsrl.UUCP> <746@drivax.UUCP> Reply-To: socha@drivax.UUCP (Henri J. Socha) Organization: Digital Research, Monterey Lines: 20 Keywords: object-oriented, teaching, Summary: Computers beeen berrry berrry goood to me Bruce, one of the things I learned in University was that when you get out into the real world you spend the first x months learning how to do things their way. They hired you (and not someone else) because you proved that you COULD learn (being almost more important than WHAT you learned). I found that learning CONCEPTS about data structures, structured programming, algorithms, etc. was more important than learning WATFIV, Assembly, C, etc. I also feel that I was lucky that I did not! learn BASIC at first. BASIC (at least BASIC in '68) destroys ones understanding of good programming techniques (few recover). (** please no FLAMES from BASIC lovers **) Object oriented programming should teach the importance of data structures, algorithms, the advantages of data hiding, function organization, re-use of software libraries, i.e. how to organize and write a programme. Once you know how, you can pick up WHICH language at your place of employment. Therefore, (finally :-) I feel that learning object oriented programming techniques is an excellent way to learn about computer programming. (Also a teeny bit on assembly language so they can appreciate what the compiler/interpreter is doing for them.)