'Programming language paradigms' instruction through designing a new paradigm

  • Authors:

  • Hilda M. Standley

  • Affiliations:

  • University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 37th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education
  • Year:
  • 2006

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Abstract

Undergraduate and master's students enrolled in a programming language paradigms class are given the assignment to design a new programming language paradigm. The students are asked to develop a paradigm concept, demonstrate the utility of the paradigm for programmed solutions, and outline a sample programming language. Resulting student-designed paradigms from this class fall into three loosely defined categories: connection with a physical item, modeling a process, and representing program structure. The resulting class experience demonstrates that students can think and create beyond existing paradigms and features of languages to the level of abstraction that defines a new paradigm.