[Edu-sig] Re: Using Jython to merge Python and Java for CS1

[Toby Donaldson]

Hi,

I haven't tried the Jython + Java approach that you suggest, but the 
problem I see is that Jython syntax doesn't look anything like Java 
syntax, so I can't see what afvatnage this would have to beginning 
programmers.

If later courses assume profficiency in Java, then you should teach 
Java. Perhaps the course you mention that comes before yours should be 
the one that teaches Python? Or perhaps you can argue that students 
should be introduced to at least 2 languages in the CS1 - CS3 stream, 
and Python should be one of those languages because of its ease-of-use, 
self-documenting nature, and support for advanced programming features 
like higher-order functions and generators.

Toby