edit: teaching programming

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=="main article"[1] (slightly edited)
I'm currently teaching a introductory programming course using Java. Here's the spread of the technical knowledge of the students in my course:
- One student has recently learned that the shift key on the keyboard can turn letters from lower case to upper case.
- One student has had multiple courses in C++ and at least one math course which used some Java programming.
- The rest of the class ranges somewhere between these extremes.

I recently assigned a homework assignment that required the following: Using the Java Graphics library, draw three shapes on the screen (like a square, a rectangle, and a circle). Make each shape a different color.
- 1/3 were unable to complete the assignment.
- 1/3 turned in exactly what I assigned.
- 1/3 started giving me their own artwork, recreations of classical art, or art work from video games. One student gave me a pixel-perfect recreation of a screen shot of Space Invaders, and another student turned in a program that displayed the "original box art of Super Mario Bros"[2]. ["cheating not suspected"[3]]

Some of my students are turning in beautifully crafted programs using language constructs that I haven't taught in class nor are found in the textbook. Clearly, they don't need my help learning Java.

But then there's the other third of my class. A student sent me an e-mail with this line: 
"You might as well be teaching Chinese to a monkey."
That line is depressing. The more that I teach computer programming, the more I wonder if programming is something that you just "get" and can't really be taught.

About two hours after assigning the most recent homework assignment, two students came by my office to say that the assignment was too difficult and probably could not be completed in two weeks. At the same time, a third student came to my office to turn it in completed.

Every time I get an indication that the class is too difficult, I get another indication that it's too simple. I have no idea how difficult my class is.

[1]http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/
[2]http://www.vooks.net/supermariobrosbox.jpg
[3]http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/#comment-138

==comments of interest
="Mike"[1]
"In order to learn something, you have to be willing to learn it. It’s entirely possible that the students on the left side of the bell curve simply don’t have the interest in learning Java. They’re taking the class because they have to — and somewhere along the line, they decided that they don’t have the aptitude or the time to do the work.

There isn’t much you can do to help the situation. If the students are genuinely interested in the subject and want to do well in the class, they’ll seek you out put in an obvious effort."

[1]http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/#comment-156

="Rev. Johnny Healey"[1]
"Java is a terrible language to teach new students. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were being confused by the numerous magical keywords that seem to be required to perform the simplest tasks.

Try teaching something simple, like Scheme or Python."

[1]http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/#comment-160

="Alan"[1]
"I was a student who was firmly on the left hand side of the bell. I didn’t get it at all and had no idea what was going on. Then as if by magic one day it just clicked. I can actually remember the feeling sitting in a computer room and suddenly it all clicking.

Since that point I too have tried to teach others how to programme. One guy I spent a whole morning with trying to get him to experience "The Click" I had. Unfortunately after three hours of one on one tuition he still couldn’t complete the task of getting “hello world” to print on the screen.

I believe the concept of programming can’t be taught. It has to click for that individual and for some it will click instantly, yet for others it takes a while. As for teaching, well I keep trying in hopes that I can help people get "The Click"."

[1]http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/#comment-161

="Arshia"[1]
"The way I dealt with the intelligent students who felt like they were not being challenged was to simply throw more interesting and complex programs at them (which is what my professor did for me in my intro class because I was one of those students). They enjoyed it and found a lot of programming constructs, ideas and information that they may never have encountered through their entire academic career. This also led to a lot of discussion, confidence and a familiarity that kept students motivated to succeed through the entire CS program."

[1]http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/#comment-163

=next to read
http://pshaw.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/i-have-no-idea-how-difficult-my-class-is/#comment-168

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