Re: Worst blog post ever on teaching programming

in reply to Problematic post on teaching programming

Successful autodidacts would any of them handle the course material just fine. They may not have got along with a teacher, but a student can always find another teacher.

One of the advantages of a good education is that it teaches you to autodiddum without believing everything you read. If it doesn't teach that, it's not a good education.

After Compline,
Zaxo

Comment on Re: Worst blog post ever on teaching programming

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Re^2: Worst blog post ever on teaching programming by Scott7477 (Chaplain) on Apr 02, 2006 at 23:09 UTC
I agree with you. I tend to see teachers ideally as facilitators of learning or as mentors. Raw information can be had from books and other sources. A teacher should provide guidance and encouragement. The whole concept of introductory courses as "weed-out's" is repellent to me.	[reply]
Re^3: Worst blog post ever on teaching programming by jeffa (Bishop) on Apr 03, 2006 at 12:57 UTC
The whole concept of introductory courses as "weed-out's" is repellent to me. How about the concept of intermediate courses as "weed-outs?" At some point, you have to separate the ones who are serious about the subject and those who are just there because they don't know what they want to do for a career. Better to find out sooner than later. I was "weeded out" from the accounting major by the time i hit junior level and let me tell you, i am very thankful for that. The only thing i find "repellent" about "weed-out" courses is when i am required to take one in my minor field. Other than that, a teacher can only provide so much guidance and encouragement -- they simply cannot be expected to do the work for the student. You know what they call weed-out courses in the real world? "You're fired!" jeffa L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L-- -R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B-- H---H---H---H---H---H--- (the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)	[reply]

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