Teaching and Learning Strategies
It is important to engage students’ innate interests early in their academic careers to cement their commitment to computing, to further student retention, and to motivate achievement in their coursework. In addition to specific program content, curriculum designers must give consideration to learning activities, instructional techniques and student success. There are specific techniques that can be incorporated that reflect the nature of the work of computing professionals. Activities should be designed so that students learn to work in teams and in the context of projects, gain insights into the real-world setting and associated considerations, see both theory and application, and appreciate the role of foundation material in setting the stage for intermediate topics.
Computing Laboratory Experiences
The computer laboratory experience is an essential part of the computing curriculum, either as an integral part of a course or as a separate stand-alone course. Such experiences should start very early in the curriculum, when students are often motivated by the “hands-on” nature of computing. Introductory laboratories should be designed and conducted to reinforce concepts presented in lecture classes and homework. Students should be provided many opportunities to observe, explore and manipulate characteristics and behaviors of actual devices, systems, and processes. Every effort should be made by instructors to create excitement, interest and sustained enthusiasm in computing students. Many associate-degree granting institutions will be familiar with strong lab-based learning activities, drawing on years of experience with programs such as electronics technology and industry-provided networking curricula. Numerous colleges have long recognized that experiences such as survey courses in engineering often engage students in stimulating activities that peak their interests and set the stage for career choices in such fields. These colleges will find that they can leverage existing facilities, resources and faculty expertise in implementing computing programs.