A. Michael Berman

Class discussion by computer: a case study

Despite the broad and substantial impact of the computer on the Western World in recent years, the practical effect on the format of the typical college course has been nil. Even most Computer Science faculty continue to use the lecture model for most courses, although some courses do have a hands-on computing component, and some instructors bring the computer into the classroom for demonstration purposes. Outside of Computer Science programs, and courses that directly involve computer skills such as computer based graphics arts courses or computer-aided design, the use of computers has been minimal. In this paper I will discuss the use of computer-based class discussion.

OO techniques in the classroom: column constructor

Furthermore, it seems to me that Computer Science as a field is caught between two conflicting paradigms. On the one hand, most of us work very hard just to do a good job at what we already know how to do. At a teaching institution such as mine, most faculty teach 4 classes every semester. We all have additional responsibilities in academic advising and administration. How much time is left to learn new techniques and languages? At research universities, the pressures are different but certainly no less. How many faculty will choose to take time away from publishable and fundable research to learn new techniques to bring into the undergraduate classroom? Faced with these pressures, it makes good sense to stand by the known, the essential, the tried and true.