From MIT's Fall 2009 Schedule, note reference to Python 6.00 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
Prereq: None Units: 3-7-2 Lecture: TR11 (34-101) Recitation: F11 (32-044) or F12 (32-044) or F1 (32-044) or F2 (32-044) +final Introduction to computer science and programming for students with little or no programming experience. Students learn how to program and how to use computational techniques to solve problems. Topics include algorithms, simulation techniques, and use of software libraries. Assignments are done using the Python programming language. J. V. Guttag http://student.mit.edu/catalog/m6a.html This course was once the famous 6.001 using Scheme and SICP, Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson, Sussman, and Sussman, now regarded by Abelson as out of date. Kip Raul Miller wrote: > On Fri, Aug 21, 2009 at 12:27 PM, Yuvaraj Athur > Raghuvir<[email protected]> wrote: >> Now, my observation is that just as visual languages for an abstract >> domain are difficult to master, so are languages that use signs the >> way J does. > ... >> Does this resonate with you? > > When I have dealt with an audience with no programming > background, J seems to be easier to teach than other languages, > until we get into issues like fancy I/O where J requires the user > understand a verbose vocabulary. > > That said, when dealing with a novice audience, I have not been > trying to teach all of a language -- I am just trying to teach enough > to give the user some confidence an ability to run programs that > they write and some basic fluency so they have something which > they can build on. > > For fluency, I think J leverages some fairly extensive bodies > of mathematics. But this can be tricky since most math classes > use different notations from J. So when learning math, you often > need to set aside J so you can learn the class's notation and > then once you have mastered the basics you can come back > and figure out how to use J to express some of the class's > concepts. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
