Here are some resources students might find useful for learning Java.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Project based learning
The programming course will be taught as a "project based course". All students should select a project and form a group of students who will work together on that project.
The recommended group size is 3-5 students. However, we may be able waive the size for those who are unable to find sufficient members for their project.
I would like everyone to finalize their projects as well as groups by Friday 6th July, 2007.
Mail the project description on the newsgroup and also identify a list of resources (books as well as online resources) to help you with the project.
The recommended group size is 3-5 students. However, we may be able waive the size for those who are unable to find sufficient members for their project.
I would like everyone to finalize their projects as well as groups by Friday 6th July, 2007.
Mail the project description on the newsgroup and also identify a list of resources (books as well as online resources) to help you with the project.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Mode of teaching and learning
The programming in Java course will be conducted as a hybrid course.
We will have traditional lectures in the classroom. We will also have online lectures Skype or a similar service. I will publish screencasts as well as audio conversations with software developers on programming in Java. We have a newsgroup for this course on which students can ask as well as answer questions. Beyond this exchange of knowledge and information, everyone will be encouraged to learn by way of practice. Code... code ... and even more code.
Let me quickly explain why it is important to engage in this form of learning.
The study of programming consists of understanding the syntax of a language and understanding proper usage and programming idioms. Understanding the syntax is explained reasonably well in text books, but understanding usage and best practices comes by practice and conversations with other practitioners. Hence, this course will have a very string focus on practice and conversations.
In this day and age the internet offers a very good platform for communication. Here are some ways in which I communicate. However, do not feel limited by what I have listed. Everyone can choose whatever works best for them.
I hope everyone in this class has a very successful career as software developers.
We will have traditional lectures in the classroom. We will also have online lectures Skype or a similar service. I will publish screencasts as well as audio conversations with software developers on programming in Java. We have a newsgroup for this course on which students can ask as well as answer questions. Beyond this exchange of knowledge and information, everyone will be encouraged to learn by way of practice. Code... code ... and even more code.
Let me quickly explain why it is important to engage in this form of learning.
The study of programming consists of understanding the syntax of a language and understanding proper usage and programming idioms. Understanding the syntax is explained reasonably well in text books, but understanding usage and best practices comes by practice and conversations with other practitioners. Hence, this course will have a very string focus on practice and conversations.
In this day and age the internet offers a very good platform for communication. Here are some ways in which I communicate. However, do not feel limited by what I have listed. Everyone can choose whatever works best for them.
- Newsgroups and forums are a very good place to ask as well as answer questions. Remember answering other's questions is as important as asking them. Just like the community helps us by answering our questions, we must give back to the community by helping others. Also teaching someone else is a very good way of learning. When you answer someone else's questions, you will also learn something valuable in the process.
- Personal blogs are a very good way of reflecting (and penning your reflections), building your reputation, and an ad-hoc community of developers. Think of your blog as an interactive academic journal, but with a slight difference. The blog is a journal which is work that is constantly in progress, and it's work on which other people, your friends or even people you do not know may comment and converse with with you.
I hope everyone in this class has a very successful career as software developers.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)