Curriculum Committee ("CC") Minutes for 14 February 1995

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Attending:  Fujimura, Kerr, Soundararajan, Weide, Yeack


* Proposed software spine (221, 222, 321, 560, 680) changes

  There was lively discussion of three possible approaches to a first
  CIS course for majors:
     (1) "Breadth" approach [e.g., Denning committee suggestions]
     (2) "Procedural epistemology (a.k.a. Abelson/Sussman)" approach [Scheme]
     (3) "First-of-software-sequence" approach [e.g., current CIS
         curriculum, and proposal for software spine changes now under
         consideration]

  Points raised included:
     (a) This is an important question because the proposed changes
         involve a long sequence (5 courses) starting with the first
         course, and the philosophical commitment there is a big one.
     (b) Probably any of these approaches will "work" if the instructors
         are dedicated and enthusiastic.
     (c) Whatever approach we choose, there should be ample opportunity
         for students to see alternative paradigms; this applies regardless
         of the proposed changes, which are incremental in this sense.
     (d) We might want to consider reducing 221, 222, and 321 to 3 hours
         each, requiring less lab effort there and adding a 3-hour course
         that deals with alternative paradigms (with labs, too).
     (e) Other issues (e.g., are we doing/proposing to do enough
         in analysis of algorithms to cover GRE questions?) will require
         looking at proposed syllabi and other details now being
         prepared.
   
   Conclusion: As a practical matter, no one in the department is
   volunteering to do anything else to the introductory course sequence,
   other than the authors of this proposal (led by Tim Long).  So we should
   proceed to consider the details of the proposal (syllabi, etc.) and
   keep the faculty informed.
   
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Next meeting: Tuesday, 21 February 1995, 10:30-11:20 AM, in DL 698.


Respectfully submitted,

	Bruce W. Weide, CC Chair