Comments on: The double hump of programming classes http://p.einarsen.no/the-double-hump-of-programming-classes/ Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:53:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Code Poems, how I came to write them. « FORMeika http://p.einarsen.no/the-double-hump-of-programming-classes/comment-page-1/#comment-1219 Code Poems, how I came to write them. « FORMeika Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:53:57 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=132#comment-1219 [...] my life, my involvement with programming computers is a long standing issue. Basically I can do it, unlike some, might have been good at it, but even though I enjoy the results of other people’s work in [...] [...] my life, my involvement with programming computers is a long standing issue. Basically I can do it, unlike some, might have been good at it, but even though I enjoy the results of other people’s work in [...]

]]> By: Cay Horstmann http://p.einarsen.no/the-double-hump-of-programming-classes/comment-page-1/#comment-1190 Cay Horstmann Sun, 30 May 2010 14:36:54 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=132#comment-1190 Do you have any evidence that OOP is to blame? In my experience, having taught objects early, late, and not at all, beginning students tend to fall behind in the same place: loops. Simple linear traversals are ok, but once you go beyond the point where the standard loops can be tweaked, a good percentage of the class has a very hard time. And that complaint is reiterated by instructors in the more advanced courses ("What do you guys do in CS1? The students that come into my class still can't program loops!") and even in job interviews (Google for FizzBuzz for some amusing blogs). Do you have any evidence that OOP is to blame? In my experience, having taught objects early, late, and not at all, beginning students tend to fall behind in the same place: loops. Simple linear traversals are ok, but once you go beyond the point where the standard loops can be tweaked, a good percentage of the class has a very hard time. And that complaint is reiterated by instructors in the more advanced courses (“What do you guys do in CS1? The students that come into my class still can’t program loops!”) and even in job interviews (Google for FizzBuzz for some amusing blogs).

]]> By: eogas http://p.einarsen.no/the-double-hump-of-programming-classes/comment-page-1/#comment-888 eogas Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:07:44 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=132#comment-888 OOP is normally the main focus of these intro classes, and I've always experienced it as something that some people understand naturally whereas others, for one reason or another, just can't seem to grasp the concept. And I think the 'weeding out' theory is absolutely correct. These intro classes are designed to reward those who understand the basic principles of programming and get rid of those who don't. I actually didn't take the intro CS course at my University (I tested out, wink, sparkle sparkle), but I have heard only that it is really hard and that it is really easy. The people who said it was hard were from non-CS majors or really shouldn't have been in CS. The people who were actually interested in the topic, the people who program for a hobby, thought it was the easiest class ever. OOP is normally the main focus of these intro classes, and I’ve always experienced it as something that some people understand naturally whereas others, for one reason or another, just can’t seem to grasp the concept. And I think the ‘weeding out’ theory is absolutely correct. These intro classes are designed to reward those who understand the basic principles of programming and get rid of those who don’t. I actually didn’t take the intro CS course at my University (I tested out, wink, sparkle sparkle), but I have heard only that it is really hard and that it is really easy. The people who said it was hard were from non-CS majors or really shouldn’t have been in CS. The people who were actually interested in the topic, the people who program for a hobby, thought it was the easiest class ever.

]]> By: admin http://p.einarsen.no/the-double-hump-of-programming-classes/comment-page-1/#comment-851 admin Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:32:27 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=132#comment-851 Thanks! I'm not sure I agree that the summary is better, but I didn't see "The Camel has Two Humps" paper before now, even if Mik linked it. Although the conclusions seem controversial, the initial literature review is very excellent! (http://www.cs.mdx.ac.uk/research/PhDArea/saeed/paper1.pdf) Thanks! I’m not sure I agree that the summary is better, but I didn’t see “The Camel has Two Humps” paper before now, even if Mik linked it. Although the conclusions seem controversial, the initial literature review is very excellent!

(http://www.cs.mdx.ac.uk/research/PhDArea/saeed/paper1.pdf)

]]> By: Zbigniew Lukasiak http://p.einarsen.no/the-double-hump-of-programming-classes/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Zbigniew Lukasiak Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:35:23 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=132#comment-850 A better summary of the paper cited there is at: http://lambda-the-ultimate.org/node/1624 A better summary of the paper cited there is at: http://lambda-the-ultimate.org/node/1624

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