Henry M. Walker

Describing both the practical details of interest to students and the high-level concepts and abstractions highlighted by faculty, The Tao of Computing, Second Edition presents a comprehensive introduction to computers and computer technology. This edition updates its popular predecessor with new research exercises and expanded discussion questions. It uses a question-and-answer format to provide thoughtful answers to the many practical questions that students have about computing. Among the questions answered, the book explains: What capabilities computers have in helping people solve problems and what limitations need to be considered Why machines act the way they do What is involved in getting computers to interact with networks The book offers a down-to-earth overview of fundamental computer fluency topics, from the basics of how a computer is organized and an overview of operating systems to a description of how the Internet works. The second edition describes new technological advances including social media applications and RSS feeds.

The Tao of Computing, Second Edition

Nell Dale

Since 1985 Nell Dale's texts have helped shape the way computer science is taught. Now she and Henry Walker, an accomplished instructor and author in his own right, are proposing a new focus for the junior/senior level data structures course. A timely response to the prevalence of object-oriented programming, this new text expands the focus of the advanced data structures course to examine not only the structure of a data object but also its type. This new focus gives students the opportunity to look at data objects from the point of view of both user and implementer.

Specifications, Implementations, and Applications

Abstract Data Types

Teaching can be intimidating for beginning faculty. Some graduate schools and some computing faculty provide guidance and mentoring, but many do not. Often, a new faculty member is assigned to teach a course, with little guidance, input, or feedback. Teaching Computing: A Practitioner’s Perspective addresses such challenges by providing a solid resource for both new and experienced computing faculty. The book serves as a practical, easy-to-use resource, covering a wide range of topics in a collection of focused down-to-earth chapters. Based on the authors’ extensive teaching experience and his teaching-oriented columns that span 20 years, and informed by computing-education research, the book provides numerous elements that are designed to connect with teaching practitioners, including: A wide range of teaching topics and basic elements of teaching, including tips and techniques Practical tone; the book serves as a down-to-earth practitioners’ guide Short, focused chapters Coherent and convenient organization Mix of general educational perspectives and computing-specific elements Connections between teaching in general and teaching computing Both historical and contemporary perspectives This book presents practical approaches, tips, and techniques that provide a strong starting place for new computing faculty and perspectives for reflection by seasoned faculty wishing to freshen their own teaching.

Henry M. Walker

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