More Labs in Introductory Computer Science

Uses of Laboratory Exercises

• gain experience tackling range of problems
• allow exposure to range of applications
• apply ideas of algorithms to specific situations
  • connect low-level realities with high-level approaches
  • experience subtleties of algorithms and their implementations
  • develop mastery of software development techniques and insights
• tailor active learning pedagogy to current course topics
• allow small scale and medium scale projects/activities

Key Observation: Although a course may involve many labs (Grinnell's CS1 uses about 45 labs, Grinnell's CS2 uses about 33 labs), individual labs can be adjusted reasonably easily as the curriculum evolves.

Pedagogy, Discussions

Many sessions at SIGCSE conferences and other venues highlight possibilities for labs.

• A Lab-based Approach for Introductory Computing that Emphasizes Collaboration by Henry M. Walker, Computer Science Education Research Conference, CSERC '11, Heerlen, the Netherlands, Thursday, 7 April 2011
• ACM/IEEE Computer Science 2013 Exemplar-Fest, SIGCSE 2013 special session
  • A multi-paradigm, lab-based, 3-course, introductory curriculum, by Henry M. Walker
• Several other references in the abstract for this session

created 18 January 2013 last revised 24 February 2013

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