Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!bbx!bbxeng!scott
From: scott@bbxeng.UUCP (Engineering)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: Which language to teach first?
Message-ID: <175@bbxeng.UUCP>
Date: 16 Aug 89 16:26:45 GMT
References: <2552@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> <6204@hubcap.clemson.edu> <5594@ficc.uu.net> <1501@shuksan.UUCP> <228@zip.eecs.umich.edu>
Reply-To: scott@bbxeng.UUCP (Scott-Engineering)
Organization: Basis International
Lines: 41

In article <1501@shuksan.UUCP> scott@shuksan.UUCP (Scott Moody) writes:
>
> ... Try explaining to you future employer that you were
>taught to 'learn' other languages easially when they are looking
>for expert Ada programmers. The first thing they do is send
>you to an Ada course anyway.
>

Which employers are these?  DOD contracters?  My motto is:

          *** LIVE FREE!  JUST SAY "NO" TO GOVERNMENT MONEY! ***  :-)

Actually, I think a first semester student should learn programming
with a simple interactive BASIC interpreter.  The instant feedback
along with simple variables and loops will help get the fundamentals
of abstract thought sharpened up.  Don't worry about bad habits at this
point.  Once the student is able to understand what an arrays and 
subroutines are, then move him on to a more disciplined language.

The second semester student needs to unlearn the bad habits he picked 
up in the first semester.  Students unable to unlearn their bad habits
are not fit to be professionals and they still have time to change their
major (seriously).

Once a student is comfortable with simple program logic, a good high level
language class and an assembler class can provide complimentary points
of view on the process of computing.

What languages to teach?  It depends on the student's plans.  The
government still uses FORTRAN.  'C' is hot right now in the mainstream.
ADA is used for some government work.  A 4GL language would be a good
introduction to data base concepts.  BASIC is a useful tool for
quick and dirty programs.   Assembly language teaches the student about
CPU architecture.  Take your pick.

-- 

------------------------------------------------------
Scott Amspoker
Basis International
505-345-5232