Have students compete calculating to the 50th Fibonacci number, one team of humans doing the math versus a team students writing a program to stress the importance of computing for calculations. Share Have students compete calculating to the 50th Fibonacci number, one team of humans doing the math versus a team students writing a program to stress the importance of computing for calculations. with FacebookShare Have students compete calculating to the 50th Fibonacci number, one team of humans doing the math versus a team students writing a program to stress the importance of computing for calculations. with Twitter
Introduce a (sometimes silly) back-story for why students need to write particular methods to motivate them and see how their work might be needed in industry jobs. Share Introduce a (sometimes silly) back-story for why students need to write particular methods to motivate them and see how their work might be needed in industry jobs. with FacebookShare Introduce a (sometimes silly) back-story for why students need to write particular methods to motivate them and see how their work might be needed in industry jobs. with Twitter
Show code without inheritance before showing code that uses inheritance so that students create a tacit understanding of the benefits inheritance provides. Share Show code without inheritance before showing code that uses inheritance so that students create a tacit understanding of the benefits inheritance provides. with FacebookShare Show code without inheritance before showing code that uses inheritance so that students create a tacit understanding of the benefits inheritance provides. with Twitter
Explain that using objects/classes helps students keep their programs organized to motivate the use of object oriented programming, some students need extra help understanding its importance. Share Explain that using objects/classes helps students keep their programs organized to motivate the use of object oriented programming, some students need extra help understanding its importance. with FacebookShare Explain that using objects/classes helps students keep their programs organized to motivate the use of object oriented programming, some students need extra help understanding its importance. with Twitter
Have students think through the steps of a racquetball simulation to help them create problem solving strategies. Share Have students think through the steps of a racquetball simulation to help them create problem solving strategies. with FacebookShare Have students think through the steps of a racquetball simulation to help them create problem solving strategies. with Twitter
Use Skylit to let students review past APCS free response questions. Share Use Skylit to let students review past APCS free response questions. with FacebookShare Use Skylit to let students review past APCS free response questions. with Twitter
Use Chortle as a great online resource that helps students learn Java for the AP test. Share Use Chortle as a great online resource that helps students learn Java for the AP test. with FacebookShare Use Chortle as a great online resource that helps students learn Java for the AP test. with Twitter
In anticipation of a relatively large project, assign smaller projects that include the programming concepts necessary for the large project. Share In anticipation of a relatively large project, assign smaller projects that include the programming concepts necessary for the large project. with FacebookShare In anticipation of a relatively large project, assign smaller projects that include the programming concepts necessary for the large project. with Twitter
Give students guided notes (i.e., partially-completed notes that students complete) to help them stay engaged and learn from lectures or readings. It may be especially helpful to include vocabulary lists. Share Give students guided notes (i.e., partially-completed notes that students complete) to help them stay engaged and learn from lectures or readings. It may be especially helpful to include vocabulary lists. with FacebookShare Give students guided notes (i.e., partially-completed notes that students complete) to help them stay engaged and learn from lectures or readings. It may be especially helpful to include vocabulary lists. with Twitter
Start by having students transpose code from one loop type to the other when teaching all the different conditionals for the AP CS A exam. Share Start by having students transpose code from one loop type to the other when teaching all the different conditionals for the AP CS A exam. with FacebookShare Start by having students transpose code from one loop type to the other when teaching all the different conditionals for the AP CS A exam. with Twitter
Have students use a spiral notebook to keep track of important information to enhance their understanding of topics by writing down the material. Share Have students use a spiral notebook to keep track of important information to enhance their understanding of topics by writing down the material. with FacebookShare Have students use a spiral notebook to keep track of important information to enhance their understanding of topics by writing down the material. with Twitter
Walk students through clicking on links in Java Docs to figure out unknown words and concepts (like iterable) by exploring the detailed explanation; plus the AP test expects students to read Java Docs online. Share Walk students through clicking on links in Java Docs to figure out unknown words and concepts (like iterable) by exploring the detailed explanation; plus the AP test expects students to read Java Docs online. with FacebookShare Walk students through clicking on links in Java Docs to figure out unknown words and concepts (like iterable) by exploring the detailed explanation; plus the AP test expects students to read Java Docs online. with Twitter
Use CodingBat problems to supplement Java and Python curricula to give students more practice. Share Use CodingBat problems to supplement Java and Python curricula to give students more practice. with FacebookShare Use CodingBat problems to supplement Java and Python curricula to give students more practice. with Twitter
Have students make themselves cheat sheets so they are able to quickly look up syntax, which keeps them from spending too much time looking up these facts. Share Have students make themselves cheat sheets so they are able to quickly look up syntax, which keeps them from spending too much time looking up these facts. with FacebookShare Have students make themselves cheat sheets so they are able to quickly look up syntax, which keeps them from spending too much time looking up these facts. with Twitter
Have students sort specific topics in computer science into broader categories in an activity that uses index cards to give them a big-picture understanding of concepts they are learning. Share Have students sort specific topics in computer science into broader categories in an activity that uses index cards to give them a big-picture understanding of concepts they are learning. with FacebookShare Have students sort specific topics in computer science into broader categories in an activity that uses index cards to give them a big-picture understanding of concepts they are learning. with Twitter
Have students implement an algorithm in Java to solve mazes so they can practice manipulating 2D arrays, stacks, and queues. Share Have students implement an algorithm in Java to solve mazes so they can practice manipulating 2D arrays, stacks, and queues. with FacebookShare Have students implement an algorithm in Java to solve mazes so they can practice manipulating 2D arrays, stacks, and queues. with Twitter
Ask students “Do we need a loop here?” to help them determine the appropriate loop to use without having to know the proper syntax to write that loop. Share Ask students “Do we need a loop here?” to help them determine the appropriate loop to use without having to know the proper syntax to write that loop. with FacebookShare Ask students “Do we need a loop here?” to help them determine the appropriate loop to use without having to know the proper syntax to write that loop. with Twitter