Have students practice looping through an array in as many ways as possible, such as forwards and backwards, to increase their comfort with array looping. Share Have students practice looping through an array in as many ways as possible, such as forwards and backwards, to increase their comfort with array looping. with FacebookShare Have students practice looping through an array in as many ways as possible, such as forwards and backwards, to increase their comfort with array looping. with Twitter
Teach students how to find built-in Java methods in the Javadocs documentation so they can are prepared to use this skill on the AP CS exam. Share Teach students how to find built-in Java methods in the Javadocs documentation so they can are prepared to use this skill on the AP CS exam. with FacebookShare Teach students how to find built-in Java methods in the Javadocs documentation so they can are prepared to use this skill on the AP CS exam. with Twitter
Compare objects in Java to cloud-hosted documents, such as Google Docs, for a relatable analogy to explain object references with. Share Compare objects in Java to cloud-hosted documents, such as Google Docs, for a relatable analogy to explain object references with. with FacebookShare Compare objects in Java to cloud-hosted documents, such as Google Docs, for a relatable analogy to explain object references with. with Twitter
Misconception: When students trace through recursive code, they have trouble figuring out if operations are done before or after the recursive call. Share Misconception: When students trace through recursive code, they have trouble figuring out if operations are done before or after the recursive call. with FacebookShare Misconception: When students trace through recursive code, they have trouble figuring out if operations are done before or after the recursive call. with Twitter
Have students label a string’s index values to help them understand how to use Java’s substring method. Share Have students label a string’s index values to help them understand how to use Java’s substring method. with FacebookShare Have students label a string’s index values to help them understand how to use Java’s substring method. with Twitter
Have students complete CodeLab’s practice exercises to improve their skills in Python, Java, C++, or other programming languages. Share Have students complete CodeLab’s practice exercises to improve their skills in Python, Java, C++, or other programming languages. with FacebookShare Have students complete CodeLab’s practice exercises to improve their skills in Python, Java, C++, or other programming languages. with Twitter
Emphasize to your students that in languages like Java a semicolon ends a complete thought, rather than just a line of code. Share Emphasize to your students that in languages like Java a semicolon ends a complete thought, rather than just a line of code. with FacebookShare Emphasize to your students that in languages like Java a semicolon ends a complete thought, rather than just a line of code. with Twitter
Choose an appropriate IDE that fits course goals. For AP CS, use an IDE that doesn’t autofill to give students more practice writing code on their own Share Choose an appropriate IDE that fits course goals. For AP CS, use an IDE that doesn’t autofill to give students more practice writing code on their own with FacebookShare Choose an appropriate IDE that fits course goals. For AP CS, use an IDE that doesn’t autofill to give students more practice writing code on their own with Twitter
Teach students that running tests cannot prove that a code works. It can, however, prove that code is not working. Share Teach students that running tests cannot prove that a code works. It can, however, prove that code is not working. with FacebookShare Teach students that running tests cannot prove that a code works. It can, however, prove that code is not working. with Twitter
For AP CS courses, consider using the linked Java API that only contains the subset of classes and methods that the AP course uses. Share For AP CS courses, consider using the linked Java API that only contains the subset of classes and methods that the AP course uses. with FacebookShare For AP CS courses, consider using the linked Java API that only contains the subset of classes and methods that the AP course uses. with Twitter
Lay out what good programming style consists of for your class to encourage good style and make debugging easier. Share Lay out what good programming style consists of for your class to encourage good style and make debugging easier. with FacebookShare Lay out what good programming style consists of for your class to encourage good style and make debugging easier. with Twitter
When tracing through code in Java, use different colors for code that is executed in a main method versus in a class method. Share When tracing through code in Java, use different colors for code that is executed in a main method versus in a class method. with FacebookShare When tracing through code in Java, use different colors for code that is executed in a main method versus in a class method. with Twitter
DrJava, the Java interpreter, gives students an interactive environment to practice testing strategies in. Share DrJava, the Java interpreter, gives students an interactive environment to practice testing strategies in. with FacebookShare DrJava, the Java interpreter, gives students an interactive environment to practice testing strategies in. with Twitter
Give students a cheat-sheet for how to accomplish particular tasks in Java so that they can create interesting programming from the beginning of a course to keep them engaged. Share Give students a cheat-sheet for how to accomplish particular tasks in Java so that they can create interesting programming from the beginning of a course to keep them engaged. with FacebookShare Give students a cheat-sheet for how to accomplish particular tasks in Java so that they can create interesting programming from the beginning of a course to keep them engaged. with Twitter
Misconception: Students have difficulty using the correct data types in Java because their go-to data type is int most of the time. Share Misconception: Students have difficulty using the correct data types in Java because their go-to data type is int most of the time. with FacebookShare Misconception: Students have difficulty using the correct data types in Java because their go-to data type is int most of the time. with Twitter
Use Shapes, Rectangles, and Squares to teach objects and inheritance in Java, tell students they’re the only ones who can complete the job for extra engagement. Share Use Shapes, Rectangles, and Squares to teach objects and inheritance in Java, tell students they’re the only ones who can complete the job for extra engagement. with FacebookShare Use Shapes, Rectangles, and Squares to teach objects and inheritance in Java, tell students they’re the only ones who can complete the job for extra engagement. with Twitter
Explain that arrays work like a dresser of clothing to help students understand this abstract data structure by relating it to structures they know. Share Explain that arrays work like a dresser of clothing to help students understand this abstract data structure by relating it to structures they know. with FacebookShare Explain that arrays work like a dresser of clothing to help students understand this abstract data structure by relating it to structures they know. with Twitter
Misconception: students forget about language-specific or paradigm-specific material (e.g., new/delete or types) when they switch between languages that don’t use the same concepts. Share Misconception: students forget about language-specific or paradigm-specific material (e.g., new/delete or types) when they switch between languages that don’t use the same concepts. with FacebookShare Misconception: students forget about language-specific or paradigm-specific material (e.g., new/delete or types) when they switch between languages that don’t use the same concepts. with Twitter
Students have trouble seeing the connection between models (UMLs, etc.) and code so they only want to focus on coding, a problem when teaching modeling. Share Students have trouble seeing the connection between models (UMLs, etc.) and code so they only want to focus on coding, a problem when teaching modeling. with FacebookShare Students have trouble seeing the connection between models (UMLs, etc.) and code so they only want to focus on coding, a problem when teaching modeling. 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