Have students complete CodeLab’s practice exercises to improve their skills in Python, Java, C++, or other programming languages.
Misconception: Students get confused with object-oriented programming in Python because function declarations explicitly take self as an argument, but function calls don’t use self as argument.
Misconception: Students who first learn object-oriented programming in Python don’t realize they need to explicitly define instance variables in Java because this is done implicitly in Python.
Run a pair programming contest in Python to motivate, challenge, and boost students’ self-confidence.
Misconception: Students think that both the IF and the ELSE cases of a conditional are executed every single time a conditional runs.
Be on the lookout for loop syntax that belongs to another language when students are learning multiple languages because they sometimes confuse syntax and create hard to spot bugs.
Have students write a game of Hangman in Python in which the computer cheats by changing its secret word to give students practice using dictionaries.
Have students implement simple filters on sound objects so they can parse strings of notes into recognizable melodies to get practice manipulating strings.
Have students create a program in Python that draws a map of the stars in order to gain practice using dictionaries to manipulate real data.