Using Scripting Languages to Teach Programming

TL;DR

This paper advocates for using scripting languages like Python, Perl, and Ruby, combined with GUI toolkits, as effective and engaging tools for teaching programming concepts and courses.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of scripting languages with GUI tools as innovative educational methods for programming instruction.

Findings

Scripting languages reduce teaching complexity and effort.

GUI integration enhances immediate visual feedback in learning.

Scripting languages are underutilized in programming education.

Abstract

Nowadays, scripting programming languages like Python, Perl and Ruby are widely used in system programming, scientific computing, etc. Although solving a particular problem in these languages requires less time, less programming effort, and less concepts to be taught to achieve the desired goal, still they are not used as teaching tools. Therefore, the use of scripting languages as a teaching vehicle for programming course is very promising. On the other hand, GUI programming, when performed with such languages, is easy and rewarding, since one sees the result of her work immediately. Thus, we are sure that scripting languages combined with GUI toolkits will be the next big thing in computer education.