Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

While this is now going off-topic:

Have you learned anything specific to the AP test? I know when I took the test, something like 40% of the questions involved Gridworld.

You will need to know more than just syntax for the test.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

We learned that strings are immutable. That's about it. The one thing I know is that iterators are a big part of the test, but we're still stuck on our 9th program on arrays.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

This page might be useful, for both you and your teacher.

While students can't access the practice exams, your teacher can sign-in and access them.

Those might be a good indicator of how much more you should be doing.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

I'll look into that, thanks. Hopefully I will be able to learn the things on my own if that doesn't pan out. Does anyone know the social and ethical implications of using computers?? It's one of the learning goals!

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

I disagree. You should always know how your data structures work. If you do not know how they are stored and accessed, you won't be able to determine if it is the best data structure for you (big O, etc.). There is a difference between a linked list, double linked list, array, matrix, etc. that you should know in order to use them correctly.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

MIT has free courses available online. This one looks relevant.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

I think I will save those for next year. I am doing an independent study in CS and need to save all the material I can for that. But thank you so much!

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

Alright, here's a question for you guys: Would you rather have a teacher who has some past experience in Computer Science but teaches it badly and sometimes incorrectly, or a teacher who has very little CS experience, but is willing to learn how to teach the class and would accept student input?

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

I've had both. I think student input is very important in the context of teaching that student or class. However I wonder if the input delivered is best suited to forming a curriculum and style.

Particularly I find being extremely critical either way is often counter to the goal. Sometimes one can get more from the act of discussion than the act of critique. Especially if it crosses into the confrontational. Once it becomes confrontational the opportunity for either participant to learn is lost in playing defense.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

The reason I ask this is my assistant principle is asking me the same thing. For next year we can either have the teacher we have now, or a math/physics teacher who understands come of the concepts of Computer Science to help guide, but not teach. This new teacher is willing to make the class more student led, as most of the kids going into the class know a lot about the subject, they would just need a teacher to guide them through the class, and he seems to be the guy to do this. Do you think this could work?

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

For me, I guess it depends on how long it takes to build momentum after the change.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

This would be a new school year. I think I may tell my principle that a class like that would be better. Kids may understand it better if they're helping each other rather than a teacher who teaches it wrong. I think there may definitely be some problems, but only 10 kids will be there next year so taking their time is an option.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

I think that is a badly presented choice. A poor teacher giving wrong information is not preferable, but by adding "and would accept student input" you have left out another valid option: currently inexperienced but willing to learn, with student input not necessary.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

The student input was because some of the kids in the class have read the AP CS textbook and taken classes at the local college before they offered the class here. The teacher was willing to let those students help to teach the class, and to help teach him things he will need for next year, when they aren't there. Yes, the option you present is always available, but the way this other teacher would teach his class is the option I highlighted. We have had multiple classes here excel with the teachers there to guide, but the students figuring out how to learn and teaching each other. It is how we do Independent Studies, just this way you have other students instead of just you and a teacher. I actually prefer the classes I've taken that are student led, as the teacher is more there to give us subjects and to help when needed, but the students are the ones who present all the information. I have usually excelled in these classes as they are more open, and we usually don't spend time on topics that we already know. A good example is the scientific method. Every year in science we learn this, even though we should know this from the last year, right? Now in these classes that are student led we have 3 extra weeks a year to learn anything we want! You'd be surprised by how much those 3 extra weeks make a difference.

Re: Quotes from the Chief Engineer and I
 

Better training for the teachers is the preferred option. Teaching is not solely about mastering content. Plus students tend to think they are further along than is true. Java/C/C++/C# or any other language is like a fancy hammer. The languages are used as tools to solve problems. We encounter lots of students who don't get that. With respect, you are a good example. Many of your comments and "solutions" in the CD fora are very clever and I would say you have great potential. But many of your comments and "solutions" are without merit.