Robert N. Cook
ABSTRACT
The course described in this paper is intended for students who are not majoring in computer science or mathematics. In a typical semester students majoring in such diverse fields as dietetics, sociology, psychology, elementary education, accounting, broadcasting, physical education, music, industrial technology, english, business administration, chemistry and secretarial science are enrolled in the course. Virtually the only common element in the background of the students enrolled in the course is their lack of a previous university course in either mathematics or computer science. The highest level of mathematical education that may be expected is first year high school algebra; occasionally even that expectation is too high. 4 For students with this background many of the available textbooks are not satisfactory. This paper will attempt to further clarify the nature of the course by stating its objectives, by discussing the choice of a language for the course, by discussing what topics normally included in available textbooks are not desirable, and finally by suggesting topics which are desirable in an introductory course for non majors.
- 1.Arib, M.A., Computers and the Cybernetic Society, Academic Press, New York, 1977.]] Google Scholar
Digital Library
- 2.Cherniak, Bob, Introductory Programming Reconsidered - A User-Oriented Approach, SIGCSE Bulletin, V8, No. 1. February, 1976.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 3.Cheney, Robert S., An Introductory Computer Survey Course, SIGCSE Bulletin, V7, No. 3, September, 1975.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 4.Chi, Emile C., et. al., Computer Science at Staten Island Community College: Teaching Computer Science in an Open Admissions Environment, SIGCSE Bulletin, V6, No. 1, February, 1974.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 5.Galler, B. A., The Language of Computers, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1962.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 6.Gries, David, What Should we Teach in an Introductory Programming Course? SIGCSE Bulletin, V6, No. 1, February, 1974.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 7.Gross, J. L. and Brainerd, W. S., Fundamental Programming Concepts, Harper and Row, New York, 1972.]]Google Scholar
- 8.Kemeny, J. G. and Kurtz, T. E., BASIC Programming, Wiley, New York, 1971.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 9.Kunstram, A. H. and Howland, J. E., APL As a Lingua Franca In the Computer Science Curriculum, SIGCSE Bulletin, V6, No. 1, February 1974.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 10.Lucas, William R., Planned Attitude Change While Teaching Computer Literacy, SIGCSE Bulletin, V8, No. 1, February, 1976.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 11.Rosenberg, Ivan M., Introductory Computer Science Courses A Modular Design, SIGCSE Bulletin, V8, No. 1. February, 1976.]] Google ScholarDigital Library
- 12.Walker, T. M., Fundamentals of Computer Science, Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1975.]]Google Scholar
Index Terms
- An approach to the introductory computer science course for non-majors
Recommendations
An introductory computer science course for non-majors
Proceedings of the 11th SIGCSE symposium on Computer science educationThis paper describes an approach to an introductory computer science course designed especially for students who are not specifically required to take a computer course and thus ordinarily receive no appreciation for computers or computing. This is the ...
An approach to the introductory computer science course for non-majors
Special issue eighth technical symposium on computer science educationThe course described in this paper is intended for students who are not majoring in computer science or mathematics. In a typical semester students majoring in such diverse fields as dietetics, sociology, psychology, elementary education, accounting, ...
An introductory computer science course for non-majors
SIGCSE '80: Proceedings of the eleventh SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science educationThis paper describes an approach to an introductory computer science course designed especially for students who are not specifically required to take a computer course and thus ordinarily receive no appreciation for computers or computing. This is the ...
Comments