tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677687.post162238074373823254..comments2024-03-27T15:13:24.764-04:00Comments on Computer Science Teacher: The Learner Gets A VoteAlfred Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575057876858763822noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677687.post-11498002240418751172018-11-19T11:53:34.164-05:002018-11-19T11:53:34.164-05:00This is why it is so important to have an array of...This is why it is so important to have an array of pedagogical approaches. I have had classes where I just throw things at them and get out of the way. Yet the same class with different students required more direction. To my programming geek students who have been programming on their own since the sixth grade a For loop is a no-brainer. For my first timers it is not. The approach to how to use it is totally different. I have no idea how I am going to teach until the first day of class when I get a chance to survey my students. For example this year I broke my Python class into two groups. I had 3 students with Python and programming experience and who program for fun. The other 5 had no programming and were not into the "programming for fun" mind set. Of course this ability to shift techniques comes with experience. A first time programming teacher is usually just hanging in there for dear life so one pedagogical thread is all they can handle. This is one of the problems with teaching from a canned curriculum when the teacher has no background in the field themselves. They have no ability to customize to suit the needs of students that do not fit the mold.Garthnoreply@blogger.com