PL's and another 2 cents

["Rauber, Joel Phys" <RAUBERJ@mg.sdstate.edu>]

> If you are looking for ways to present programming, that is, structured
> problem solving to students, you might read through the book Design
> Patterns.  Getting students away from the keyboard and getting them to
> talk about why these algorithms work could be very instructive.

I mildly disagree with this comment.  One of the useful aspects of doing 
(learning) programming is the problem solving process of setting up 
algorithms to solve problems.  BUT the computer doesn't allow fuzzy thinking 
or illogic, its merciless.  talking about algorithms, while necessary, 
always involves fuzzy thinking because the english language (or any spoken 
language) is imprecise; and it is precisely that the computer requires 
precision (which means you have to screw around with syntax issues; which is 
why a first time programming course deals with syntax issues so much, over 
good programming practice), that makes useful for this activity.

Joel