webber@brandx.rutgers.edu.UUCP (06/10/87)
In article <4460@iuvax.UUCP>, emo@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu writes: > From: Eric Ost <emo@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> > I am wondering how many people are using the programming language Scheme > in introductory computer science and electrical engineering courses? We aren't yet, but Abelson and Sussman's Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs makes one wonder why not. I am still trying to figure out what this book would mean to someone who didn't already know Computer Science. > In addition, what types of hardware are, or would be, used for such > a course? Are CS departments aware of the (ever lowering) low-cost > of systems such as those offered by Commodore, Atari, Apple, and others? > Might these not make perfect programming environments for beginning > computer science and electrical engineering students? The cost effectiveness of micros is not a well kept secret. We use tons of Macs for low level students. The big problems, from my point of view, are: 1) No mail or bboards since students don't have accounts, just disks; 2) Students are not exposed to computer system documentation; and 3) Too much of the machine is hidden from the students (some of them develope some very weird hypotheses about what is going on when they run a program). Introducing them to Unix as juniors is REAL FUN :-) Of course these things could be fixed. But then the micros become less cost effective and `real' computers start looking more reasonable. Of course, this is being typed on an Apple IIc emulating a Vt100, so there clearly are uses for micros (plays a decent game of chess for one so small too). ------- BOB (webber@aramis.rutgers.edu ; rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!webber)