Have students write pseudocode as a pre-lab exercise so they are prepared to write code when lab begins.
DrJava, the Java interpreter, gives students an interactive environment to practice testing strategies in.
Demonstrate swapping variables' values by swapping the contents of two cups full of liquid; you need a third cup to swap the liquids just like you need a third, temporary, variable to swap the values.
To avoid frustrating students, give them definitions of common terms and ways of fixing common error messages in advance.
If students are expected to compile portfolios of their work, make sure to begin this process early in the course.
Have students write end-of-unit reflections to review material, monitor their learning, and integrate writing into your CS course.
Start and end class with a short assessment by using daily warm-ups and exit slips; this will maximize instruction time and help you track student progress, plus it will validate the students’ efforts