As a student, I would say don't introduce an IDE until you feel they can really appreciate what it does for them. Our professor just started out recommending we use vi, and gave us all the information we needed to compile the programs using a makefile.
Being a windows user, I gave up on vi after a while (yes, I'm weak:<) and started using TextPad to edit my files. My professor never really introduced us to IDEs, instead he simply mentioned them in class and gave Eclipse as an example. I played around with it for a bit, but it wasn't until we were doing programs with many classes that I thought "maybe this would be easier with an IDE."
It worked out well. At that point I could say "Wow! It does all this for me! Now I can procrastinate even more!"
In conclusion, I really don't think you should teach with an IDE, but don't discourage the use of one. By teaching how to program without an IDE you really give students the knowledge they need to properly use an IDE in the first place. That way, rather than using it as a crutch, they use it as a tool.
I dunno about all this. You seem to think that everyone knows what they're doing. Joe Schmoe, on the other hand, bought his computer because he wanted to do some work every now and then and because his kids wanted to play games on it (and of course convinced him that he needed something powerful for his work, because his work is important).
Joe Schmoe would appreciate the extra security. Joe Schmoe thinks linux is some archaic OS that only the ITs talk about.
Joe Schmoe sees IE7 and goes "Hey, it's got new features!" Does he care that they were copied from FF? Doubtful.
Joe Schmoe likes the eye candy. A mac with similar eye candy doesn't allow him to to remotely control his windows computer at work, or if it does his company gave him the directions for the windows version.
Joe Schmoe appreciates the new desktop searching. It's now built in, less work for him.
Joe Schmoe likes the automatic updates. He hasn't even heard of sourceforge, or how it can help him automatically update his software.
Joe Schmoe also likes the new media controls. DRM may be a buzzword to you people, but to him it's just another term he doesn't care about.
Joe Schmoe would like to keep his kids from accessing porn sites, and can talk to his own kids about condom usage (the kids already know anyway).
Joe Schmoe couldn't care less about backups for his home PC.
Joe Schmoe likes collaborative editing. He can work from home sometimes using this tool. His kids can use it to work together (share answers) with other kids. Win-win.
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As a student, I would say don't introduce an IDE until you feel they can really appreciate what it does for them. Our professor just started out recommending we use vi, and gave us all the information we needed to compile the programs using a makefile.
Being a windows user, I gave up on vi after a while (yes, I'm weak :<) and started using TextPad to edit my files. My professor never really introduced us to IDEs, instead he simply mentioned them in class and gave Eclipse as an example. I played around with it for a bit, but it wasn't until we were doing programs with many classes that I thought "maybe this would be easier with an IDE."
It worked out well. At that point I could say "Wow! It does all this for me! Now I can procrastinate even more!"
In conclusion, I really don't think you should teach with an IDE, but don't discourage the use of one. By teaching how to program without an IDE you really give students the knowledge they need to properly use an IDE in the first place. That way, rather than using it as a crutch, they use it as a tool.
I dunno about all this. You seem to think that everyone knows what they're doing. Joe Schmoe, on the other hand, bought his computer because he wanted to do some work every now and then and because his kids wanted to play games on it (and of course convinced him that he needed something powerful for his work, because his work is important). Joe Schmoe would appreciate the extra security. Joe Schmoe thinks linux is some archaic OS that only the ITs talk about. Joe Schmoe sees IE7 and goes "Hey, it's got new features!" Does he care that they were copied from FF? Doubtful. Joe Schmoe likes the eye candy. A mac with similar eye candy doesn't allow him to to remotely control his windows computer at work, or if it does his company gave him the directions for the windows version. Joe Schmoe appreciates the new desktop searching. It's now built in, less work for him. Joe Schmoe likes the automatic updates. He hasn't even heard of sourceforge, or how it can help him automatically update his software. Joe Schmoe also likes the new media controls. DRM may be a buzzword to you people, but to him it's just another term he doesn't care about. Joe Schmoe would like to keep his kids from accessing porn sites, and can talk to his own kids about condom usage (the kids already know anyway). Joe Schmoe couldn't care less about backups for his home PC. Joe Schmoe likes collaborative editing. He can work from home sometimes using this tool. His kids can use it to work together (share answers) with other kids. Win-win.