This　paper　describes　the　development　of　a　course　in　Programming　Concepts　over　a　period　of　a　decade.　Initially　we　present　educational　principles　that　underlie　the　approach,　as　well　as　specific　and　generic　aims　for　this　course.　We　then　proceed　to　show　how　an　integrated　program　of　assessment　and　instruction　has　allowed　teaching　and　comparison　of　multiple　programming　paradigms　and　concepts　within　a　common　framework.　The　specifiation　of　specific　and　generic　skills　and　the　extents　to　which　they　are　expected　to　be　covered　has　been　closely　validated　with　surveys　framed　around　them.　We　also　address　some　general　issues　in　modern　education.　©　2012　IEEE.