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"Python first": a lab-based digital introduction to computer science

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Atanas RadenskiAuthors Info & Claims

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Volume 38, Issue 3

Pages 197 - 201

https://doi.org/10.1145/1140123.1140177

Published: 26 June 2006 Publication History

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Abstract

The emphasis on Java and other commercial languages in CS1 has established the perception of computer science as a dry and technically difficult discipline among undecided students who are still seeking careers. This may not be a big problem during an enrolment boom, but in times of decreased enrolment such negative perception may have a devastating effect on computer science programs and therefore should not be ignored. We have made our CS1 course offerings more attractive to students (1) by introducing an easy to learn yet effective scripting language - Python, (2) by making all course resources available in a comprehensive online study pack, and (3) by offering an extensive set of detailed and easy to follow self-guided labs. Our custom-designed online study pack comprises a wealth of new, original learning modules: extensive e-texts, detailed self-guided labs, numerous sample programs, quizzes, and slides. Our recent student survey demonstrates that students like and prefer Python as a first language and that they also percept the online study pack as very beneficial. Our "Python First" course, originally required for computer science majors, has been so well received that it has been recently approved as a general education science elective, thus opening new recruitment opportunities for the computer science major. Our "Python First" digital pack is published online at http://studypack.com.

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Index Terms

"Python first": a lab-based digital introduction to computer science
1. Applied computing
  1. Education
    1. Distance learning
    2. E-learning
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education
      2. Model curricula

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 38, Issue 3

September 2006

367 pages

ISSN:0097-8418

DOI:10.1145/1140123

Issue’s Table of Contents

ITICSE '06: Proceedings of the 11th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education
June 2006
390 pages
ISBN:1595930558
DOI:10.1145/1140124
Conference Chair:
Renzo Davoli
Università di Bologna, Italy
,
Program Chairs:
Michael Goldweber
Xavier University
,
Paola Salomoni
Università di Bologna, Italy

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 26 June 2006

Published in SIGCSE Volume 38, Issue 3

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3633053.3633056
Thorgeirsson SWeidmann TWeidmann KSu ZStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)Comparing Cognitive Load Among Undergraduate Students Programming in Python and the Visual Language AlgotProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630808(1328-1334)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630808
Ampofo Atta Senior I(2023)effects of students’ perception on self-efficacy in programming courses at the tertiary institutionUkrainian Journal of Educational Studies and Information Technology10.32919/uesit.2023.02.0211:2(85-98)Online publication date: 30-Jun-2023
https://doi.org/10.32919/uesit.2023.02.02
Kaila ELuukkainen MLaaksonen ALemström K(2023)On Changing the Curriculum Programming Language from Java to Python (Discussion Paper)Proceedings of the 23rd Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research10.1145/3631802.3631814(1-7)Online publication date: 13-Nov-2023
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