[comp.lang.eiffel] Teaching Eiffel

potter@ultima.cs.uts.oz (John Potter) (11/28/89)

Within the Computer Science Dept here at the University
of Technology, Sydney, we are teaching Eiffel within our
introductory programming subjects.

I would be interested in making contact with other people
attempting to do the same, to discuss general approaches,
educational goals and any problems.

My primary interest is to address the use of Eiffel as
*the* vehicle for learning introductory programming
principles and concepts.

jcm@mstr.hgc.edu (James McKim) (07/10/90)

  Netters,
 
  I work at the Hartford Graduate Center which caters almost exclusively
  to students who are working full time and seeking their Master's degrees
  in the evening. We have more than 400 students in the Computer Science
  program. These are people who either are, or soon will be, in a position
  to influence which languages, software, hardware, etc. their companies
  will use. Obviously their experiences at the Graduate Center greatly
  influence them.

  I am convinced that they should be exposed to Eiffel. In fact I would
  like to see Eiffel eventually become the dominant language in our
  curriculum. As we are going through something of a budget crunch
  and every expenditure must be well justified. I am hoping that some of you
  can help me make that justification. Specifically,

    1. Can anyone supply me with educational institutions that are using
      Eiffel and that I could contact or visit? An institution running
      Eiffel on SUN 3/50's with 4 megs of memory would be ideal, since
      that's what we have.

    2. Does anyone have a list and brief descriptions of industrial/business
      applications in which Eiffel was used, or a way that I could compile
      such a list?

    3. I assume Eiffel has been most commonly used to teach software
      engineering and OOP/D courses. Has it been used to teach data structures,
      systems programming, operating systems, compiler theory, graphics,
      human computer interface, or OO Database Management courses?

    4. Has Eiffel been endorsed by any 'big names' in the industry (excluding
      Bertrand, of course)?

    5. Are there any studies comparing Eiffel to other OO languages?

  We enter a new fiscal year on July 1. The month of July is probably the 
  time that money will be the most available. Anything you can do to help
  me make my case would be gratefully appreciated.

  Thanks,

  Jim