Laboratory experience for an introductory computer science course oriented towards software engineering

The authors believe that the practice of computing should be the main focus undergraduate computer science education, especially in the first two years. They believe that this pedagogical shift has, by far, the highest leverage for improving computer science education. To achieve this goal, they have based the core sequence of their curriculum at the University of Virginia on a series of closed laboratory activities. The lecture content and materials will be supportive of the laboratories rather than the other way around. The authors began development of the first course (ICS: Introduction to Computer Science) of their new curriculum during Spring `92 and offered it in both the Fall `92 and Spring `93 semester. They present a brief overview of course content, course evaluation, and operational problems of the laboratory experience