[Edu-sig] the idea of "CS-friendly" algebra courses...

[A. Jorge Garcia]

I have a similar problem in AP Computer Science. That course has 
required Java since 2003. Frankly, I wish they would have stayed with 
C++ which we used from 1999-2002 (a vast improvement over Pascal 
1984-1998). I wish they'd use python now!

I've been using a combination of SAGE and pure Python in my introCS 
course for some time now. We start the year with SAGE and Discrete 
Mathematics using the Litvin text.:
http://skylit.com/mathandpython.html

Mid year, we switch to pure Python we use IDLE and VIDLE using the 
Think Python text:
http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html
http://interactivepython.org/courselib/static/thinkcspy/index.html

and we play with python, turtle.py and vpython:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL956Pn2cKSgLHSxQLPO6YIQ8VlxLPNgc

HTH,
A. Jorge Garcia
Applied Math, Physics & CS
http://shadowfaxrant.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009
2013 NYS Secondary Math http://PAEMST.org Nominee