Hi
How about giving the students a few example of code that does the
job...but is very different in its organization and approach...and let
them pick the best....
How about code examples with questions like.....which would be the
easiest to extend....Which will be easier to debug.....which is a better
way of doing security....which system would be the easiest to break
into.....would it be easier to do the following in <insert programming
language names>....could play with well commented code that's a mess and
un-commented code that's well down....shades in between
Given the following code....my first priority would be..... A few
choices....comment code, rewrite into another tier, start again....
Given the following code.....performance wise I would be most concerned
about...section a, section b, section c
Maybe the students could individually write code, turn it in and you
select 3 examples to use as...which is the best and why?
Random thoughts
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Team Learning Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Elizabeth Carraway
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 1:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Computer Programming Courses
Keith,
I don't teach programming, but a general approach that could work for
in-class exercises would be:
a - show examples of code and ask which best accomplishes the task (then
why ...) b - show an example of code and ask specific questions about
how it accomplishes the task - questions addressing the specific
commands selected, speed, vulnerability to certain errors, etc.
Another way to sum this up is to create questions based on the way you
critique code when you grade it. You can always open up the discussion
when appropriate to what's a better way to accomplish the same task?
The team project could perhaps have a strong focus on a comparison of
the strengths and weaknesses of different tools for a given task.
Good luck!
Beth
Elizabeth R. Carraway, PhD
School of the Environment
Clemson University
[log in to unmask]
At 02:04 PM 4/4/05 -0400, Keith J. Whittington wrote:
>Has anyone ever successfully implemented team-based learning in a
>computer programming course? I would love to use this approach, but the
>main focus of the course is to use various Java tool programs like
>JUnit, NetBeans, Ant, CVS, Java Security model, Java 2D Graphics etc.
>The problem is that the way you learn this material is by writing code
>and the book indicates that writing assignments are poor choices.
>
>If I give assign a team project, they will naturally split up the work
>where each member would program a different tool. This would be counter
>productive, since I want them to master all the programming tools.
>
>Even the applied in-class exercises would be difficult to do since, in
>this case, the application of the concepts is the ability to use the
>tool, which requires writing code and doesn't fit the TBL model.
>
>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
>
>Keith
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