This project reshapes the curriculum and laboratory structure for the two-semester Introduction to Computer Science sequence. Students explore the role of abstraction in both program development and reasoning about computation. This change allows the course to play an important general-education role, letting non-computer-scientists sample the computer-science world view. It also allows the prospective majors to gain an early perspective on the field. To accomplish this change, the Scheme dialect of Lisp, which better supports abstraction and exploratory programming, is used which necessitates switching from personal computers to more powerful workstations. To support this means of delivery, allow exploration of abstraction mechanisms, and allow empirical study of computational phenomena, the project uses 17 NeXTstation computer workstations and supporting file servers, printer, and system software. In order that the students have a positive, fruitful laboratory experience, the project also includes a switch to scheduled, structured, supervised lab sessions, rather than a drop-in computer room.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9152548
Program Officer
Duncan E. McBride
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1991-04-15
Budget End
1993-09-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
$48,120
Indirect Cost
Name
Gustavus Adolphus College
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Saint Peter
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
56082