Tutorial-based teaching of introductory programming classes
Joseph L. Zachary · 1994
In a typical programming class, students watch and listen as instructors explain and demonstrate e key concepts through the use of blackboards, overhead projectors, and computer screen projection.Students then move to computer laboratories and solve programming assignments, more or less on their own.There is little opportunity for machine interaction in the lecture hall, and little opportunity for human interaction in the laboratory.In the Department of Computer Science at the University of Utah, we have made substantial progress in merging the lecture and laboratory experiences into something greater than the sum of its parts.We have developed a computerbased learning environment and a set of online tutorials for teaching introductory courses in Unix, C, and Fortran.We have been teaching our Unix course using this technology for three years, and our Fortran and C courses for two years.In all three courses, which have served over 1700 students during this period, we have completely eliminated the lecture component.Student evaluations for all three courses are now higher than they were under the old lecture format.During the summer of 1991 we developed software and courseware for teaching Unix to science and engineering undergraduates.We incorporated these developments into our curriculum beginning with the 1991-92 academic year.During the summer of 1992, we built upon our Unix experience by developing courseware for teaching introductory coumes in Fortran and and C. We incorporated this work into our curriculum during the 1992-93 academic year. 1 A Tutorial-Based Unix Class