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Using Computer Programs and Search Problems for Teaching Theory of Computation: Recognizing the significance of a cornerstone of computer science.

The article considers the importance of incorporating the theory of computation into undergraduate university-level computer science programs. The author discusses how using computer problems such as the halting problem and the question of P versus NP help build an understanding of the limits and po...

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Published in:Communications of the ACM Vol. 63; no. 10; pp. 33 - 36
Main Author: MacCormick, John
Format: Article
Published: Association for Computing Machinery Oct2020
Subjects:
Computer science education
Theory
Famous problems in symbolic & mathematical logic
Electronic information resource searching
Computer software
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article considers the importance of incorporating the theory of computation into undergraduate university-level computer science programs. The author discusses how using computer problems such as the halting problem and the question of P versus NP help build an understanding of the limits and possibilities of computers. He relates that using two approaches, search problems and using real computer programs, both help foster a better understanding of the field.