44
votes
How can I convince my fellow CS teachers that reaching every student is a worthwhile goal?
Please don't...
...give the students who are ahead more of the same kind of work to do. Please. That's just boring. If they get it, they get it.
...make groups by mixing the students who are ahead ...
- 4,684
35
votes
Accepted
Problematic student at a very high level
The best way to deal with this kind of student is to head it off at the pass. If you can get the student at the beginning, you can often prevent the problem from festering in the first place. I have ...
- 32.9k
21
votes
Dealing with students who complete labs very quickly
I have 3 tiers of labs.
First are the required labs. They're worth 100 points each and every one must do these. If they don't do one, it goes in the gradebook as a zero. These are also the labs that ...
- 3,029
17
votes
Accepted
Dealing with students who are overly motivated
I don't think this is really a CS problem - though of course some individuals do get "addicted" to computing.
The root of the problem is that these students don't know how to study - and ironically, ...
- 613
12
votes
Problematic student at a very high level
You said he refuses to work, but has mastered the material. How do you know he's mastered the material?
I've had students like this in the past. They'll finish 2 weeks worth of assignments in a day ...
- 3,029
11
votes
How to deal with very low performing students?
One elegant way to deal with this sort of problem (though it does take a lot of work) is to create a self-explanatory review packet (including a practice quiz!), give it out on day one, and promise ...
- 32.9k
11
votes
Dealing with students who are overly motivated
It seems like the students are trying to learn all they can using the resources you've provided. Memorization in the way you describe strikes me as a sign that the students don't have enough work to ...
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10
votes
How can I convince my fellow CS teachers that reaching every student is a worthwhile goal?
The easiest way to set the conditions so that they can all be reached continuously in every class period is to make the conditions so easy that all can achieve them with very little effort. However, ...
- 806
9
votes
Problematic student at a very high level
A few ideas...
Scaffold your problem sets. CS50 -- and by extension CS50 AP -- sections students according to "less comfortable" and "more comfortable" tracks. (See what they do here for pset2.) ...
- 9,082
7
votes
Dealing with students who are underly-motivated
You've mentioned before that your students are adults who are attempting to make a career change to a programming role. With that in mind, I think the best thing you can do is show them how what you'...
- 5,430
7
votes
Teaching a blind high school student
A quick online search led me to this.
A Beginner's Guide to Access Technology for Blind Students
It covers all the essentials
Screen Access Software
Braille Embosser
Notetaker
Scanner and Optical ...
- 1,884
7
votes
Teaching a blind high school student
I think it is bad practice to have the computer draw pictures, and then try to describe them, when in would be much easier (and better for the blind person) to interpret a text interface (command line)...
- 10.7k
6
votes
How to deal with very low performing students?
I noticed that most of the answers focus on the things (topics, lectures, etc.) I have found that it is helpful to focus on the students. I normally ask them for a one-on-one chat and ask them why are ...
- 342
6
votes
How to deal with very low performing students?
I face the same issue every year. In France where I teach, University is basically free and, in some bachelor curricula you can repeat the year and re-enrol in courses you have not validated as much ...
- 727
6
votes
Dealing with students who are overly motivated
It would really depend on the student.
I would suggest that you see if it those students get better grades (compared to others that do the expected amount of work). Also, it might be worth looking ...
- 6,297
6
votes
What are good models for a Tutorial System for lagging CS students?
When I started my last job, there were many problems with the CS "tutors" at the CC and university I worked at:
Tutors actually didn't know the content that well themselves.
Tutors "explained" a lot, ...
- 1,975
5
votes
How do you teach EVERY student?
I am not sure if your post is a statement or a question. However it is my opinion (after more than 25 years in the software industry) that some topics are just not for everyone, and computer science ...
- 591
5
votes
Problematic student at a very high level
In the spirit of the other answers, I would recommend:http://www.usaco.org
It contains excercises that progress from trivial to "stomps most undergrads" which would help him find his level (and maybe ...
- 51
5
votes
Problematic student at a very high level
Mastering the material is less than half of what it takes to be a great engineer. Showing up and doing the work - even when it is phenomenally boring - is critical.
Giving him a pass will not in any ...
- 151
5
votes
Dealing with students who complete labs very quickly
The other answers are good, but there's another angle you could take that hasn't been mentioned: make the early finisher(s) your temporary lab assistant(s). Assuming that what they turned in was ...
- 867
5
votes
Dealing with students who are overly motivated
It appears that the student(s) in question don't really want to do what they are doing, but feel like they have to; this answer addresses that. Be sure to consider that maybe your student(s) just ...
- 4,684
5
votes
What are good models for an Honors Program for CS students?
First, I will describe my university's program, and then I will give my thoughts on its efficacy as a participant of this program.
My university makes a distinction between the general "University ...
- 161
5
votes
Accepted
Dealing with students who are underly-motivated
There are no substitutes for talking to the student. You can make guesses, try new activities, or shift things around in your course, but you are shooting blind until you actual figure out what is ...
- 32.9k
5
votes
Teaching a blind high school student
I have never had this situation, but can offer some general advice that is also applicable to other students whose needs require specialized techniques.
As suggested in other answers here, talk to ...
- 36k
4
votes
Dealing with students who complete labs very quickly
I am basing my answer on my own high school experience, some decades ago. I was a junior in a CS class composed mostly of seniors. The format for a five day week was two days of lecture, three days of ...
- 475
4
votes
Dealing with students who complete labs very quickly
I'm a big fan of giving fast-finishers choice. I make one thing abundantly clear to the students from the beginning: if class is 90 minutes long, everyone works on the topics of our course for that ...
- 457
4
votes
Problematic student at a very high level
No one has yet mentioned the long term effects on the student. If the person wants to explore computing as a career they need people skills, not just technical skills. But that is a lesson your entire ...
- 36k
4
votes
How to deal with very low performing students?
I do tend to review some basic topics at the start of a semester to get a handle on what students have forgotten or never learned completely. After that I don't use class time as I expect students to ...
- 798
4
votes
Dealing with students who are overly motivated
Depending on your overall situation you might consider asking the student to collaborate with you on something that uses their skills. I'm assuming that they aren't too overextended by their study ...
- 36k
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