Like Parsley in Greek Food: Elementary Set Theory and the Case for DM1
Abstract
The predominant design philosophy behind most Discrete Mathematics (DM) courses is that of a recycling bin: a place where mathematical prerequisites with no other natural home can live out the rest of their days in peace. This fundamentally misunderstands the role of mathematics in computer science. Instead of being a collection of topical prerequisites, mathematics provides a conceptual framework enabling the sort of high-level computational thinking that a computer science bachelor's degree is supposed to train.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Mathematics Education and Programs
Teaching and Learning Programming
Mathematics Education and Teaching Techniques
Publication details
- Journal / source
- ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE)
- Pages
- 121–126
- Publication date
- 13 February 2026
- Language
- EN