A declarative laboratory approach for discrete structures, logic, and computability
James L. Hein · ACM SIGCSE Bulletin · 1993
OverviewMany students find it hard to grasp and retai n the ideas presented in courses covering discret e structures, logic, and computability .These subjects provide a foundation for required upper division courses in computer science .Therefore a major effort must be made to improve the learnin g environment for students studying these ideas a t the lower division level .Many of us succeeded academically in spite o f the way we were taught .But how many people hav e not succeeded because of the way material wa s presented to them?Since people learn in differen t ways, it makes sense to present students with a variety of learning experiences .We have created a laboratory component for a year long sophomore course in discrete structures , logic, and computability for students majoring i n computer science or computer engineering .Th e labs consist of experiments in declarative programming environments .The experiments ar e designed to reinforce the learning of material o n a daily basis, just like the regular homework assignments .In other words, the lab experiment s are short in duration and relevant to the material covered by each lecture .Short programming labs that correspond t o each lecture should be useful learning tools fo r many traditional courses .The instant feedbac k that students get from wrong assumptions ca n give them incentive to try something new -to experiment and see what happens .The lab component can also encourage the use of laborator y partners, interaction of students, team presenta -SIGCSE Vol .25 No .3 Sept .199 3 BULLETIN structures, logic, and computability .The course i s actually a sequence of three 10 week courses ,where each course is four credits consisting o f three credits of lecture and one credit of lab .Th e three courses cover the following material :