Teaching C++11 at Introductory Level
Teaching C++11 at Introductory Level

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we share our experience with teaching features presented in the new standard for the C++ language (known as C++11) in our introductory CS1 programming course. Since 2010 we have been successfully teaching rvalue references, move semantics and perfect forwarding as a part of the intermediate CS2 course in object-oriented programming (OOP), so, considering the current requirements and trends in education, we decided to reorganize the introductory course from classical imperative-first approach to multiparadigm programming with early exposure to objects, templates and threads. This involves teaching elements form the STL library and the new C++11 standard, emphasizing facilities that we consider to be easier to use, and therefore easier to learn by beginners, than their older alternatives. However, not everything went smoothly. We experienced some serious difficulties, so in this paper we try to explain and offer solutions to overcome them.

• Details
• Contents