Developing a Course on Teaching Functional Programming in JavaScript

Abstract

This thesis describes the design and development process of a course teaching functional programming in JavaScript. The course is targeted at third-year BSc or first-year MSc students who are familiar with at least the basics of JavaScript. The course will be taught at the University of Tartu. This paper discusses the motivation behind the creation of the course. It also reviews problems with learning functional programming and argues how learning functional programming could be made more efficient by focusing on practical examples. The topics covered in materials - lecture slides and home assignment descriptions - are explained in depth. The overall course structure and delivery process is described. The thesis serves as helpful documentation to the course’s future lecturer.