Java Help - Re: For those Deprived Of Homework

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Re: For those Deprived Of Homework

Thomas G. Marshall

2005-11-20, 7:01 pm

Monique Y. Mudama said something like:
> On 2005-11-18, Roedy Green penned:
>
>
> Good idea, Roedy. A lot of times I want to learn a language, but have
> trouble getting started without a problem to solve.

Sure. Remember though, that if java is their first exposure to OOD, then
OOD is the major hurdle, not the language. This requires a great deal of
forethought.

Furthermore, it's likely to spark some debate. But that is fine as well.

--
Enough is enough. It is /not/ a requirement that someone must google
relentlessly for an answer before posting in usenet. Newsgroups are for
discussions. Discussions do /not/ necessitate prior research. If you are
bothered by someone asking a question without taking time to look something
up, simply do not respond.

Monique Y. Mudama

2005-11-21, 7:02 pm

On 2005-11-20, Thomas G. Marshall penned:
> Monique Y. Mudama said something like:
>
> Sure. Remember though, that if java is their first exposure to OOD,
> then OOD is the major hurdle, not the language. This requires a
> great deal of forethought.
>
> Furthermore, it's likely to spark some debate. But that is fine as
> well.
>

That's the only reason I'm leery of the "contest" aspect. Since
you're not supposed to share your work on the group (sensible for the
contest aspect), it seems like a lot of the possible benefit will be
lost (if Roedy is the professor, then maybe the group could act as a
collective TA). But talking through the design aspect seems extremely
beneficial.

In my CS dept we had an "open hands" policy -- you could talk about a
problem with any other student, provided that after you were done,
neither of you took away anything written or typed. You could even
work on whiteboards together, etc., as long as afterwards, the
whiteboard was wiped down. I thought it was a good way to allow
people to brainstorm together while still requiring them to understand the
problem in order to solve it. I don't know how well that idea would
hold up in a newsgroup, though. Of course here, as there, it would be
a matter of honor.

--
monique

Ask smart questions, get good answers:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Roedy Green

2005-11-21, 7:02 pm

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 07:20:39 -0700, "Monique Y. Mudama"
<spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote, quoted or indirectly quoted someone who
said :

>That's the only reason I'm leery of the "contest" aspect. Since
>you're not supposed to share your work on the group (sensible for the
>contest aspect), it seems like a lot of the possible benefit will be
>lost (if Roedy is the professor, then maybe the group could act as a
>collective TA). But talking through the design aspect seems extremely
>beneficial.

Hmm. This has to be closer to the vest than an regular homework
assignment since the goal in not only to complete the basic assignment
but to do it better than anyone else. I have not heard any interest
from the contestants, so I fear this is a bust.
--
Canadian Mind Products, Roedy Green.
http://mindprod.com Java custom programming, consulting and coaching.

Monique Y. Mudama

2005-11-21, 7:02 pm

On 2005-11-21, Roedy Green penned:
> On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 07:20:39 -0700, "Monique Y. Mudama"
><spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote, quoted or indirectly quoted someone
>who said :
>
>
> Hmm. This has to be closer to the vest than an regular homework
> assignment since the goal in not only to complete the basic
> assignment but to do it better than anyone else. I have not heard
> any interest from the contestants, so I fear this is a bust.

*nod* I understand why, for a contest, people wouldn't go sharing
their work before the due date.

It's a fairly ambitious assignment. I'd think the offer of free books
would get people's attention, though.

I like the idea very much. If no one answers, please don't give up on
trying original ways to get people to learn. (I thought about doing
it "just for fun", but right now I just don't have the time ...
actually, this may be a problem for a lot of people. I know Canada's
Thanksgiving has come and gone, but in the US we're just gearing up,
and for most here it is a big deal.)

--
monique

Ask smart questions, get good answers:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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