A suggested course in introductory computer programming

Abstract

Introductory programming courses have long been a popular topic of discussion. Often it is either the only computer course a student takes or it is the foundation upon which all further training in computer science is built. The usual goal of such a course is to introduce the student to the use of a computer to solve simple problems in his or her particular discipline. Generally the method of presenting the material may be separated into two distinct schools of thought, which we have termed the “Black Box School of Thought” and the “White Box School of Thought”. In this paper, we discuss the benefits and drawbacks associated with the two alternative approaches. Additionally, we present a suggested course outline using the “White Box” method.