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COMP 101: Designing a First-Year Experience for Computing Majors Discussion Penny Rheingans Carolyn Seaman Marie desJardins Susan Martin May 9, 2014. Preparation and Maturity of Freshmen. Inability to think computationally, problem solve Wide variance Technical and math preparation
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COMP 101: Designing a First-Year Experience for Computing Majors Discussion Penny Rheingans Carolyn Seaman Marie desJardins Susan Martin May 9, 2014
Preparation and Maturity of Freshmen • Inability to think computationally, problem solve • Wide variance • Technical and math preparation • Study skills • Emotional maturity • Confidence • Maturity – emotional • What can we do to level the playing field? • Are there some things that freshmen are just too immature to learn?
Curricular Issues • How to keep students on track • Advising, changing majors, enrollment • Role of peers • “Freshman issues” • Deal with in a course for only freshman computing students? • OR • Deal with in the first computing course with a mix of students?
Community • Isolation – how big an issue is this? • Solutions: • Physical space • Clubs • Peer mentoring • Dorm space • What else?
Women and Underrepresented Minorities • We didn’t talk much about this • Conferences like Grace Hopper and Richard Tapia? • Are the “freshman problems” different for women? For minorities? • Do any of our solutions implicitly exclude these groups?