Multi-Paradigm Approach for Teaching Programming

Abstract: Selecting an appropriate programming paradigm in which to teach the first programming and problem solving course in a Computer Science undergraduate program has been discussed extensively. Procedural programming, functional programming, and object oriented programming are the most widelyused programming paradigms both in institutes of higher learning and in the high-tech industry. In recent years, a number of authors have suggested object oriented programming as the first programming paradigm for undergraduate curriculum. We argue the critical role of using more than one programming paradigm in the typical undergraduate program in Computer Science and Information Technology. We address the issue of integrating multi-paradigm programming in undergraduate curricula. We identify core computer science courses where appropriate programming paradigms could be embedded. We then propose an outline of multi-paradigm programming topics and their mapping to appropriate core courses in an undergraduate computer science curriculum