Ask HN: How has MIT's switch from Scheme to Python worked out?

4 points

6 years ago

Around 2007, MIT changed its introductory curriculum from SICP in Scheme to Python.[1-6]

How has this worked out?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from MIT students: both those who took the introductory course with Scheme and those who took it with Python, and of the latter especially those who wound up learning Scheme and reading SICP later on, either at MIT or independently. Do you think you missed out? Was using Python instead of Scheme the right choice?

Insights from TA's and teachers also welcome.

[1] - https://www.wisdomandwonder.com/link/2110/why-mit-switched-from-scheme-to-python

[2] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11628080

[3] - http://lambda-the-ultimate.org/node/1840

[4] - http://lambda-the-ultimate.org/node/3312

[5] - http://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~bh/sicp.html

[6] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22994976

1 comment