[cap-talk] Potting the web-calculus in a paragraph

[Sandro Magi]

Ian G wrote:
>> Actually, I recently read some articles on a computer science program
>> that taught functional programming as a disciplined introduction to
>> object-oriented programming. Companies that hired graduates were
>> interviewed and have all been raving that the program produced the best
>> crop of programmers to date. Can't find the darn thing now of course...
> 
> It would be interesting to see a proper scientific
> study done on it.  I'd imagine there is enough data
> for it.  At my alma mater the current school head
> pushed it through, to the chagrin of some.
> 
> (Your observation that FP leads to OO is new to me.)

Found it!

"How to design class hierarchies"
http://lambda-the-ultimate.org/node/view/1124

In that article are the following:

Abstract:
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/Presentations/FDPE2005.html

Presentation:
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/Presentations/FDPE2005/htdch.pdf

Quote from the abstract:
"My talk will instead present a novel approach to the first-year 
programming curriculum. Specifically, I will explain how a functional 
semester ideally prepares students for the true essence of 
object-oriented programming according to Alan Kay: the systematic 
construction of small modules of code and the construction of programs 
without assignment statements. Experience shows that these courses 
prepare students better for upper-level courses than a year of plain 
object-oriented programming. Initial reports from our students' co-op 
employers appear to confirm the experiences of our upper-level instructors."

Sandro