What Happens When Students Switch (Functional) Languages
summary
Two course studies compare Racket, Pyret, and Python to measure transfer, using homework and exams rather than lab tasks. 87% of students report no Pyret experience; 54% accept same-block variable redefinition in Racket rising to 87% in Pyret; only 44% have prior programming in the second cohort and 25% report Python experience. Many students fail to predict Python behavior: 77% think top-level return is valid, 20% show a dynamic-scope misconception, and only 70% handle premature returns correctly.
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