Tuesday, November 1
3:00 p.m.
3305 Newell-Simon Hall
“Thoughts on Introductory Computer Science Education”
Peter Lee, Professor, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Computer scientists and computer science educators are constantly reassessing the introductory curriculum. The intensity of this reassessment has increased, in large part because it is seen as relevant to the recent concerns about declining enrollments and interest in the field.
For the most part, introductory computer science has emphasized hands-on experiences and the development of programming skills. While hands-on skills development has been a mainstay of almost all introductory laboratory-science courses in, for example, biology and chemistry, introductory CS has been unusual, both in its heavy use of “industrial-strength” tools, such as the C++ programming language and commercial web-development systems, as well as the extent to which skills are emphasized over other aspects of the field, such as its history and scientific (or mathematical) underpinnings. In a sense, intro CS has attempted to serve not only as an introduction to the field but also as a valuable form of vocational training.
In this talk, I will give my thoughts on the introductory curriculum. I will argue that the use of industrial-strength tools is often inappropriate, just as it would be in, say, a high-school chemistry course. Instead, I believe that a more well-rounded curriculum that provides a balance of skills development, mathematical foundations, and historical context would be both more appropriate and more effective in inspiring young people to enter the field and understand its scope.
