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Misconception: Students believe that when they assign a = b, they are copying b into a rather than making a point to b.

  • This misconception is a result of an incorrect mental model of how variable assignment works.

More about this tip

Tags

  • Content Misconceptions
  • CS 1
  • Intro Programming
External Source

"Exploring programming misconceptions: an analysis of student mistakes in visual program simulation exercises" by Teemu Sirkiä and Juha Sorva.

Other Tips By
Other Tips By Juha Sorva
Juha Sorva

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Remind students to spend lots of time carefully reading the free-response questions on the AP CS A exam to prepare them for this portion of the exam.
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If your school lacks the resources necessary to hold a practice exam, consider talking to a local college or university for help.

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