Open Discussion on Teaching Computing Topics to Non-CS Majors

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Open Discussion onTeaching Computing Topics to
Non-CS Majors
Hugh Lauer and Robert Kinicki Worcester
Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA, 01609 USA
Moderator - Bob Kinicki rek_at_cs.wpi.edu

• Computer Science Colloquium
• May 16,2008

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Outline

• Introductory Remarks Bob Kinicki
• A Few Comments by Hugh Lauer
• Open Discussion
• How do we in CS work with other departments to
  best server non-majors?
• Does this simply boil down to a language issue
  for non-majors?

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My Viewpoint (rek)

• CS 2303 Systems Programming
• I taught this course for the first time in C08
  Term.
• Course material includes
• C programming
• Systems programming
• C programming
• Data Structures

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Motivation and Observations

• Concerned about the data structures knowledge of
  CS Majors.
• Surprised by the number of non-majors in the
  course.
• Unhappy with the non-major performance.
• A higher percentage of non-majors did not take
  the two prerequisite courses.
• Picked up anecdotal information from ECE
  students in the course about C.

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CS 2303 C08
Year Total A B C NR
2011 77 23 22 25 23
2010 26 31 19 23 38
2009 7 14 14 29 43
2008 8 13 25 0 62
MassAcad 5 20 40 20 20
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CS 2303 C08
Major Total A B C NR
CS 55 (44) 27 16 29 27
ECE 21 (17) 19 29 14 38
IMGD 30(24) 17 20 17 47
RBE 4 50 0 25 25
ME 2 0 50 0 50