An introduction to computer science for secondary school students

This report describes the historical background of computer science education and an experiment in teaching a twelve week course in computer science at H. G. Maynard High School, Maynardville, Tennessee, small school in rural Union County. The course, the first introduction to computer science for most of the tenth, eleventh, and twelth grade students involved, was designed and implemented during the spring of 1979 by Michael Moshell and Rebecca Meacham of the Computer Science Department of The University of Tennessee and Laura Demarotta of Maynard High School. This project was used as a pilot course for a National Science Foundation proposal to develop an introductory computer science curriculum for high schools. The PASIC programming language on a XITAN microcomputer was used to provide "hands on" computer experience from a user point of view. This report also includes suggested lesson guides, required computer programs, sample exams, and textbook and reference material recommendations.