Misconception: When passing arrays in C/C++ students often forget to pass in the size of the array and to use [] (square brackets) to make the variable an array. Share Misconception: When passing arrays in C/C++ students often forget to pass in the size of the array and to use [] (square brackets) to make the variable an array. with FacebookShare Misconception: When passing arrays in C/C++ students often forget to pass in the size of the array and to use [] (square brackets) to make the variable an array. with Twitter
Misconception: Students incorrectly assume that Java’s substring method is destructive and wrongly anticipate the original string will change. Share Misconception: Students incorrectly assume that Java’s substring method is destructive and wrongly anticipate the original string will change. with FacebookShare Misconception: Students incorrectly assume that Java’s substring method is destructive and wrongly anticipate the original string will change. with Twitter
Have students brainstorm about the data structure Pandora uses for playlists to help motivate arraylists or linked lists through comparison to everyday life. Share Have students brainstorm about the data structure Pandora uses for playlists to help motivate arraylists or linked lists through comparison to everyday life. with FacebookShare Have students brainstorm about the data structure Pandora uses for playlists to help motivate arraylists or linked lists through comparison to everyday life. with Twitter
Tell students that the data structure linked lists were used for the human genome sequencing project to motivate the value of this structure and increase interest. Share Tell students that the data structure linked lists were used for the human genome sequencing project to motivate the value of this structure and increase interest. with FacebookShare Tell students that the data structure linked lists were used for the human genome sequencing project to motivate the value of this structure and increase interest. with Twitter
Justify the reason that Java Strings are immutable by showing how Strings might be packed together in the heap to help students resolve incomplete understandings in their mental model. Share Justify the reason that Java Strings are immutable by showing how Strings might be packed together in the heap to help students resolve incomplete understandings in their mental model. with FacebookShare Justify the reason that Java Strings are immutable by showing how Strings might be packed together in the heap to help students resolve incomplete understandings in their mental model. with Twitter
Use everyday examples (e.g. egg cartons, seats in a theater) to help students understand 2D arrays. Share Use everyday examples (e.g. egg cartons, seats in a theater) to help students understand 2D arrays. with FacebookShare Use everyday examples (e.g. egg cartons, seats in a theater) to help students understand 2D arrays. with Twitter
Explicitly discuss the lack of bounds-checking in C-based courses to avoid student confusion when using strings and arrays. Share Explicitly discuss the lack of bounds-checking in C-based courses to avoid student confusion when using strings and arrays. with FacebookShare Explicitly discuss the lack of bounds-checking in C-based courses to avoid student confusion when using strings and arrays. with Twitter
Use the Barrel of Monkeys toy as a visual aid to explain linked lists. Share Use the Barrel of Monkeys toy as a visual aid to explain linked lists. with FacebookShare Use the Barrel of Monkeys toy as a visual aid to explain linked lists. with Twitter
Remember that many misconceptions regarding linked lists also occur when dealing with binary search trees so that you are prepared to identify and correct them. Share Remember that many misconceptions regarding linked lists also occur when dealing with binary search trees so that you are prepared to identify and correct them. with FacebookShare Remember that many misconceptions regarding linked lists also occur when dealing with binary search trees so that you are prepared to identify and correct them. with Twitter
Use this list of common coding errors to help students debug. Share Use this list of common coding errors to help students debug. with FacebookShare Use this list of common coding errors to help students debug. with Twitter
Use Problets.org to help students practice programming basics in C++, Java, C#, or Visual Basic Share Use Problets.org to help students practice programming basics in C++, Java, C#, or Visual Basic with FacebookShare Use Problets.org to help students practice programming basics in C++, Java, C#, or Visual Basic with Twitter
Use a four-point structure when teaching data structures to keep class consistent for optimal learning: introduce an abstract data type, cover implementation, demonstrate use, and review Big-O analysis. Share Use a four-point structure when teaching data structures to keep class consistent for optimal learning: introduce an abstract data type, cover implementation, demonstrate use, and review Big-O analysis. with FacebookShare Use a four-point structure when teaching data structures to keep class consistent for optimal learning: introduce an abstract data type, cover implementation, demonstrate use, and review Big-O analysis. with Twitter
Focus on these four key concepts when first teaching C to help students with previous programing experiences transition from higher-level languages such as Python. Share Focus on these four key concepts when first teaching C to help students with previous programing experiences transition from higher-level languages such as Python. with FacebookShare Focus on these four key concepts when first teaching C to help students with previous programing experiences transition from higher-level languages such as Python. with Twitter
Create a word counter assignment to help students understand the importance of Big-O. Share Create a word counter assignment to help students understand the importance of Big-O. with FacebookShare Create a word counter assignment to help students understand the importance of Big-O. with Twitter
Use Easter eggs and a seed sorter to teach arrays of objects because students find arrays of objects hard and need the additional scaffolding. Share Use Easter eggs and a seed sorter to teach arrays of objects because students find arrays of objects hard and need the additional scaffolding. with FacebookShare Use Easter eggs and a seed sorter to teach arrays of objects because students find arrays of objects hard and need the additional scaffolding. with Twitter
Spend extra time teaching Big O in intro classes that use Python because the underlying implementation of Python lists is a mystery to students that leads students to believe many operations are constant, O(1), that are not. Share Spend extra time teaching Big O in intro classes that use Python because the underlying implementation of Python lists is a mystery to students that leads students to believe many operations are constant, O(1), that are not. with FacebookShare Spend extra time teaching Big O in intro classes that use Python because the underlying implementation of Python lists is a mystery to students that leads students to believe many operations are constant, O(1), that are not. with Twitter
Help students develop a more thorough understanding of CS topics by designing and building games. Share Help students develop a more thorough understanding of CS topics by designing and building games. with FacebookShare Help students develop a more thorough understanding of CS topics by designing and building games. with Twitter
Misconception: students sometimes struggle to identify where in a loop variable values get changed. Share Misconception: students sometimes struggle to identify where in a loop variable values get changed. with FacebookShare Misconception: students sometimes struggle to identify where in a loop variable values get changed. with Twitter
Use the “fence post” method when teaching Java’s substring method to help students use it accurately. Share Use the “fence post” method when teaching Java’s substring method to help students use it accurately. with FacebookShare Use the “fence post” method when teaching Java’s substring method to help students use it accurately. with Twitter
Track the variable values of a recursive function using multiple pieces of paper to form a “stack” so that students can visualize what happens when a method calls itself and how each method call has its own unique variable values. Share Track the variable values of a recursive function using multiple pieces of paper to form a “stack” so that students can visualize what happens when a method calls itself and how each method call has its own unique variable values. with FacebookShare Track the variable values of a recursive function using multiple pieces of paper to form a “stack” so that students can visualize what happens when a method calls itself and how each method call has its own unique variable values. with Twitter