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Course Objectives

Prerequisites

Approach

Typical Text

Course Outline

Course Objectives
Introduce principles and techniques for teaching speaking and writing on computer science topics.

Prerequisites
Graduate major in computer science or permission of instructor.

Approach
Based on assignments, class teaching performances, and discussion participation. Broad curve. Two free late assignments; any more late ones are half credit.

Typical Text
Highet, The Art of Teaching (Vintage)
McKeachie, Teaching Tips, 8th Edition (D.C. Heath)
Strunk and White: The Elements of Style, (MacMillan)

Course Outline
Numbers in parentheses indicate approximate number of weeks

Aug 25	Elementary public speaking
Sept 1	The teacher
Sept 8	Methods: lecture, Socratic, recitation, exercise
Sept 15	No class today
Sept 22	Methods: case method, seminar, laboratory
Sept 29	Audio-visual techniques
Oct 6	Motivation, testing, grading
Oct 13	How to teach research, and finding thesis topics
Oct 20	Teaching elementary programming and organizing laboratories
Oct 27	Guest lecturer on teaching elementary programming
Nov 3	Overview of technical writing
Nov 10	Student presentations
Nov 17	Quizzes and examinations; how to prepare and prepare for oral exams
Nov 24	Informal teaching: selling, fund-raising, proposals, and site visits. Computer use in instruction
Dec 1	The teacher as a professional: economics, compensation, the academic marketplace, publish or perish, time-budgeting, professional ethics
Dec 8	Reserved for topics of your and my choice