Learn to Teach Java: Writing Classes and Arrays

Overview

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Learn to program using Class design and 1-D Arrays in Java, and prepare to teach others using the free, online interactive CS Awesome textbook. In this course for teachers we'll guide you both in learning Java concepts and skills but also in how to effectively teach those to your students. This course will support you in teaching the Advanced Placement Computer Science A course or a similar introductory university-level programming course. We'll cover the critical Java concepts of class design and 1-dimensional arrays, as covered in the APCS A Units 5 and 6. Each topic will begin by relating Java to block-based programming languages and then provide video overviews of CS Awesome content along with additional materials to supplement learning for your students. You'll engage with additional materials to support your teaching including "deep dive" classroom discussion questions, assessment overviews, code tracing and problem solving skills for your students, including preparation for free response coding questions.

Syllabus

Welcome!

Meet Dr. Simon and fellow learners in this class! Find out what you’ll be doing and learning.

Creating Classes (Unit 5): Learn as a Student

We've been using objects of classes created by others -- now it's our turn! Using CS Awesome, we'll learn to design and create classes by encapsulating data and methods.

Writing Classes (Unit 5): Teacher Powerup

This week we'll go deeper and engage with some resources to support your teaching. You'll learn how these concepts are commonly assessed, but focus a LOT on how class creation can be assessed -- especially on the APCS A free response questions. Finally, you can check your own Unit 5 Java and Java Teacher mastery on our end of Unit 5 quizzes.

Arrays (Unit 6): Learn as a Student

Arrays extend the power of iteration to allow us to repeat instructions on (potentially) large sets of data. Want to store and calculate grades for an entire class of students? Want to find the minimum or maximum temperature in a file of historical temperature readings? Use arrays! Using CS Awesome, we'll learn to create and iterate over 1-dimensional arrays and really start to ramp up our problem solving skills.

Arrays (Unit 6): Teacher Powerup

This week we'll go deeper and engage with some resources to support your teaching. You'll explore some questions to use in classroom analysis discussions (Peer Instruction) and and learn how these concepts are commonly assessed. Again, we'll look at the kinds of free response questions one can ask about arrays! Finally, you can check your own Unit 6 Java and Java Teacher mastery on our end of Unit 6 quizzes.