Use a number-guessing game that pushes students to use binary search in a fun and interactive activity that allows you to introduce binary sort in a grounded manner.
Match grammar constructs of nouns and verbs to classes and methods to help students understand what goes into a class because this helps make this difficult object-oriented programming construct easier to understand.
Use tupperware containers and act out being the computer to teach students how in CS variables and statements like x=x+1 are different than variables and equations in math by creating a meaningful visualization.
Have students compare two hypothetical job candidates using their resumes and social media profiles to discuss issues that impact online presence and searching for jobs.
Show students the “What Facebook Knows About You” video to help them better understand their digital fingerprint.
Explain that Java’s return is like a platter where you can hand information between methods to help students create a concrete mental model for an often tricky subject.
Use puzzles, problem solving, and tinkering in assignments and activities to build students’ confidence and interest in pursuing Computer Science and to ensure that students understand and develop necessary skills for success.
Motivate for-loops by having students informally describe how to draw a set of 5 shapes, then having them turn this description into pseudocode to practice for-loops.
Connect how extracting important information from word problems or logic puzzles relates to the process of working with software clients.
Show students many examples of computer science to help them see that computer science isn’t just about programming.