Skip to main content
CS Teaching Tips

Main navigation

  • Browse All Tips
  • Tags
  • 3D
  • About
  • Rate Tips
  • Tip Sheets

Misconception: Students create a new instance variable when they only need a local variable.

Share Misconception: Students create a new instance variable when they only need a local variable. with FacebookShare Misconception: Students create a new instance variable when they only need a local variable. with Twitter
  • For example, in Java, students create an instance variable public int count that is only used in one method, so they should instead create a local variable.

More about this tip

Tags

  • Content Misconceptions
  • CS 1
  • Intro Programming
  • Java
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

Similar tips

Teach "if" statements before "switch" statements, then explain how "switch" is a specialized case of "if" by translating an "if" statement into a "switch" statement.
Use Python as an introductory language rather than Java or C to allow students to focus on problem-solving more than syntax.
Introduce recursion using the example of opening a present wrapped in several layers of wrapping paper.

For more information or to report a bug, contact us at admin@csteachingtips.org. Built with Bootstrap. Powered by Drupal.

Privacy Policy