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
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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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