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.

  • For example, if you’re teaching students Scanner and you always name a new scanner keyboard, some students will only create scanner objects named keyboard.
  • A common problem with this type of misconception is changing variable names while debugging.
    • When asked to debug a program, students may change all the scanner objects names to keyboard.
    • It is important for students to understand that objects and variables can be named many things; it isn’t wrong for a scanner to be named something other than keyboard.

More about this tip

External Source

Interview with Dani McAvoy