Misconception: students develop the habit of putting the type in front of variables; they don’t realize that this creates a new variable resulting in lots of variables with the same name. Share Misconception: students develop the habit of putting the type in front of variables; they don’t realize that this creates a new variable resulting in lots of variables with the same name. with FacebookShare Misconception: students develop the habit of putting the type in front of variables; they don’t realize that this creates a new variable resulting in lots of variables with the same name. with Twitter
Teach "if" statements before "switch" statements, then explain how "switch" is a specialized case of "if" by translating an "if" statement into a "switch" statement. Share Teach "if" statements before "switch" statements, then explain how "switch" is a specialized case of "if" by translating an "if" statement into a "switch" statement. with FacebookShare Teach "if" statements before "switch" statements, then explain how "switch" is a specialized case of "if" by translating an "if" statement into a "switch" statement. with Twitter
Show intro students in class how to force stop a program running in terminal because they need to be shown how to get out of a running infinite loop, it’s a very useful skill. Share Show intro students in class how to force stop a program running in terminal because they need to be shown how to get out of a running infinite loop, it’s a very useful skill. with FacebookShare Show intro students in class how to force stop a program running in terminal because they need to be shown how to get out of a running infinite loop, it’s a very useful skill. with Twitter
Misconception: students struggle with the onMousePress method (and other mouse interaction methods) in the Java objectdraw Library from Williams College; they need help understanding it’s called even when don’t explicitly call it. Share Misconception: students struggle with the onMousePress method (and other mouse interaction methods) in the Java objectdraw Library from Williams College; they need help understanding it’s called even when don’t explicitly call it. with FacebookShare Misconception: students struggle with the onMousePress method (and other mouse interaction methods) in the Java objectdraw Library from Williams College; they need help understanding it’s called even when don’t explicitly call it. with Twitter
Insist students use Javadocs as a resource in intro Java classes to reinforce the value of self-directed learning and ensure they know how to reference important documentation. Share Insist students use Javadocs as a resource in intro Java classes to reinforce the value of self-directed learning and ensure they know how to reference important documentation. with FacebookShare Insist students use Javadocs as a resource in intro Java classes to reinforce the value of self-directed learning and ensure they know how to reference important documentation. with Twitter
Relate how cool it would be to have the entire dictionary for another language put into your head to importing libraries in Java to help students make sense of this abstract concept. Share Relate how cool it would be to have the entire dictionary for another language put into your head to importing libraries in Java to help students make sense of this abstract concept. with FacebookShare Relate how cool it would be to have the entire dictionary for another language put into your head to importing libraries in Java to help students make sense of this abstract concept. with Twitter
Misconception: If you consistently use the same variable names during class in lectures and examples, students may incorrectly assume objects in Java can only have those names. Share Misconception: If you consistently use the same variable names during class in lectures and examples, students may incorrectly assume objects in Java can only have those names. with FacebookShare Misconception: If you consistently use the same variable names during class in lectures and examples, students may incorrectly assume objects in Java can only have those names. with Twitter
Teach these four Scanner methods that allow students to write interesting code at the beginning of an introductory Java course to give students a feel for programming without overwhelming them. Share Teach these four Scanner methods that allow students to write interesting code at the beginning of an introductory Java course to give students a feel for programming without overwhelming them. with FacebookShare Teach these four Scanner methods that allow students to write interesting code at the beginning of an introductory Java course to give students a feel for programming without overwhelming them. with Twitter
Create notes that look like Javadocs instead of introducing Javadocs so students are scaffolded in reading Javadocs without being overwhelmed by all the material available. Share Create notes that look like Javadocs instead of introducing Javadocs so students are scaffolded in reading Javadocs without being overwhelmed by all the material available. with FacebookShare Create notes that look like Javadocs instead of introducing Javadocs so students are scaffolded in reading Javadocs without being overwhelmed by all the material available. with Twitter
Tell students they have to believe that some things just work before they will understand why it works because they need exposure to a lot of material before some concepts make sense individually. Share Tell students they have to believe that some things just work before they will understand why it works because they need exposure to a lot of material before some concepts make sense individually. with FacebookShare Tell students they have to believe that some things just work before they will understand why it works because they need exposure to a lot of material before some concepts make sense individually. with Twitter
Check out the Computing At School website for resources for a variety of CS courses. Share Check out the Computing At School website for resources for a variety of CS courses. with FacebookShare Check out the Computing At School website for resources for a variety of CS courses. with Twitter
Reinforce introductory drawing in Processing by having students draw a simple logo students are familiar because using a recognized cultural icon students helps keep students motivated. Share Reinforce introductory drawing in Processing by having students draw a simple logo students are familiar because using a recognized cultural icon students helps keep students motivated. with FacebookShare Reinforce introductory drawing in Processing by having students draw a simple logo students are familiar because using a recognized cultural icon students helps keep students motivated. with Twitter
Use popular, repetitive music to teach loops in a beginning course because this motivates the purpose and application of loops while keeping students engaged by referencing popular culture. Share Use popular, repetitive music to teach loops in a beginning course because this motivates the purpose and application of loops while keeping students engaged by referencing popular culture. with FacebookShare Use popular, repetitive music to teach loops in a beginning course because this motivates the purpose and application of loops while keeping students engaged by referencing popular culture. with Twitter
Use worked examples (step-by-step demonstrations of how to perform a task) to introduce new problem solving skills to students. Share Use worked examples (step-by-step demonstrations of how to perform a task) to introduce new problem solving skills to students. with FacebookShare Use worked examples (step-by-step demonstrations of how to perform a task) to introduce new problem solving skills to students. 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
Install the offline editor on student machines in your Scratch course in case the online editor is not available. Share Install the offline editor on student machines in your Scratch course in case the online editor is not available. with FacebookShare Install the offline editor on student machines in your Scratch course in case the online editor is not available. with Twitter
Check out Professor Colleen Lewis’ online Scratch curriculum for ready-to-use CS classroom activities and for ideas for your own curriculum. Share Check out Professor Colleen Lewis’ online Scratch curriculum for ready-to-use CS classroom activities and for ideas for your own curriculum. with FacebookShare Check out Professor Colleen Lewis’ online Scratch curriculum for ready-to-use CS classroom activities and for ideas for your own curriculum. with Twitter
Use Potato Head Toys to teach classes, objects, methods, and properties so that students develop hands on experience with abstract topics. Share Use Potato Head Toys to teach classes, objects, methods, and properties so that students develop hands on experience with abstract topics. with FacebookShare Use Potato Head Toys to teach classes, objects, methods, and properties so that students develop hands on experience with abstract topics. with Twitter
Use some of the following real world constructs to help beginning students form better understandings of abstract object-oriented principles. Share Use some of the following real world constructs to help beginning students form better understandings of abstract object-oriented principles. with FacebookShare Use some of the following real world constructs to help beginning students form better understandings of abstract object-oriented principles. with Twitter
Use short video lessons for middle school age students to keep their attention on the content because students struggle to focus on demos at the board at this age. Share Use short video lessons for middle school age students to keep their attention on the content because students struggle to focus on demos at the board at this age. with FacebookShare Use short video lessons for middle school age students to keep their attention on the content because students struggle to focus on demos at the board at this age. with Twitter