Author(s)

D.R. Smallwood

Abstract

In an earlier paper we argued that many introductory programming courses were inadequate for teaching procedural programming. We identified specific failings in such courses and offered an alternative approach based upon rigor- ous adherence to the fundamental principles of the procedural paradigm. In this paper we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, based on our own practical experiences, and show how these provided the motiva- tion for a teaching tool: MIRO. Finally, we demonstrate how MIRO is used to support an introductory course in procedural programming. 1 Introduction We argued previously that traditional programming courses fail to provide a satisfactory introduction to procedural programming [7]. Many such courses offer a bottom-up, syntax-oriented approach in which it is di

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