Dan FleckÕs Programming Class Get Well Plan

Your Situation: It is later in the semester in any programming class, and you have started to realize youÕre not doing as well in the class as you need to. A lot of people ask me ÒWhat should I do now?Ó

My advice if youÕre in this situation is 4 steps:

1.     Go to class! (This one is easyÉ just show up and listen.) The better thing to do is this:

a.     Print out the slides BEFORE class

b.     Listen during class, going through the slides with me

c.      Take notes on the slides to make the slides clearer for you

2.    Work through programming problems

a.     In each chapter in the book there are programming problems at the end of the chapter. Pick some from Chapter 3, then 4, then 5É work them all. Keep going until youÕre caught up in the class. Try to work as many as you have time for. This MUST be done to catch up. Unfortunately, itÕs not easy and is time consuming. (ThatÕs why itÕs better to work throughout the class to stay caught up.)

b.     When you finish a program from the book, email it to me (your instructor) or one of the GTAs or UTAs and ask ÒDoes this look right for problem ABC in the book? Is there a better way I could do it?Ó  Feedback from us will help.

c.      What if you cannot finish the problem in the book? Then you should show up in person to office hours of the GTAs or me and ask for helpÉ weÕll work through it with you

d.     Repeat over and over with programs until youÕre pretty easily getting them done. Programming is a sportÉ you only get better with practice!! Ask questions if you get stuckÉ people are here to help you succeed!

3.     Make sure you start on the projects EARLY. Make sure to do any extra credit available on the projects. If you donÕt understand somethingÉ ASK QUESTIONS!

4.     Study for the examsÉ if youÕve done steps 1-3, studying will be easy. Read through the slides and notes and make sure you understand the concepts and examples given. Redo any previous exams and make sure you very clearly understand all the problems on the exam. Work through them WITHOUT looking at the answer! If you donÕt understand anything, ask questions or work through the examples on your own until you understand.

Unfortunately there is no easy answerÉ. catching up will take hard work on your part!