alubiw@water.waterloo.edu (Anna Lubiw) (10/11/90)
At the University of Waterloo we have for a number of years been teaching a first year computer science course which matches fairly well the curriculum suggested in the 1989 CACM report "Computing as a Discipline", by Denning et. al. In an nutshell they recommend that "the introductory course contain a rigorous, challenging survey of the whole discipline." We are having several problems with this course. We would be interested in comparing notes with anyone who has a successful program going. Some specific questions are: 1. Are there any text books suitable for such a first year course? 2. Is there an update of the ACM curriculm '78? The SIGCSE conference in January 1990 had some discussion of this, but nothing appears in the proceedings. Is there something available in written form? Anna Lubiw Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science University of Waterloo
slimick@unix.cis.pitt.edu (John C Slimick) (10/15/90)
We have been using the text "Programming Principles" for our Intro to CS course for the last four years or so. While not a complete survey, we do manage to cover the following: Breakout diagrams (like Warnier diagrams) Flow charts Nassi-Schneidermann diagrams decision tables data flow diagrams pseudocode binary, hex, octal assembly language (quick word on architecture) formal languages BNF and railroad tracks lots and lots of problem solving and, of course, Pascal Some years we manage to include state machines as well; in the book (but never covered) are contour models and loop invariants This book now exists in a Modula edition; publisher is WCB. Another possibility is "Computer Science: an Overview" by J. Glenn Brookshear (Benjamin Cummings). It really covers the field at an introductory level, and could be used in a first course where the students have all had substantial computer exposure previously (which ours haven't). In a first course it would probably require a parallel effort in Pascal. (one possible play for the hometown crowd: John Motil is a Canadian, exiled to Southern California) john slimick university of pittsburgh at bradford bradford pa slimick@unix.cis.pitt.edu