“GAIN: An interactive program for teaching interactive computer graphics programming” by Towle and DeFanti

Recent trends in the manufacturing and sales of home computers indicate that a new form of instruction must be developed for teaching programming in the home. Students learn programming from interacting with computers and other students in a classroom setting. The home user may not have this option. Manuals do not teach; they are good for looking up information you have forgotten. Workbooks and textbooks do not have a structure conducive to teaching—you have to understand everything before you can figure out “undiagnosible syntax error” or “OC4.” An approach has been developed at UICC which uses sophisticated error handling and modest program verification to supervise the beginning user while he/she is constructing and executing computer graphics programs. New, inexperienced computer users are now doing interesting (to them) programs within a half hour. This “interactive workbook” concept will be expanded and is currently a working prototype of a teaching package to be available on a home computer graphics/color TV system next year.

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