programming class

[matas]

I am only a senior in high school. I have a computer science II class, which is java object oriented programming basically. In cs I class I learned how to use visual basic, which was ok, it was my first class. This year however, it feels kinda hard and teacher does not explain material well. Class goes like this. She usually gives a word document file with a program description that we have to make. If you get it, fine, but if you don't you will be in trouble, because teacher does not help at all. She just says, do it on the paper first. Fine. I know how the program should work, but I just don't know how to code that in. So what I am thinking is I should switch out of that class and get perfect A in other class. But, I currently doing a research what I want to major in college. I came across engineering. I would be interested in computer, aerospace, or like electrical or mechanical. If I go with that, I know I will need a programming language on my job. What are your suggestions? Should I endure the horrible long-lasting class and then take AP computer science next semester in my school to get some credit in college. Or my alternative is just try stuff on my own and take a class in college? Thanks

 

[reverend boltron]

I would stick with it. Get yourself a book on Java and do it to it. The Dummies books were helpful for me.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Take hte course and do well. If there is a curve, you'll get an A so long as you do the work.

In high school, I would highly doubt that anyone will properly do object oriented design. You are only going to learn Java, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[CrazyLazy]

In my computer programming class in high school the teacher/textbook were not very useful. There are some incredibly good free resources available online via google for any simple programming stuff you need to do, so I just learned it like that.

 

[EagleKeeper]

In the real world, your hand does not get held.

Projects are assigned with requirements.

It is up to the developer to implement those requirements.

 

[pstylesss]

You're teacher probably doesn't even know java. When you run into trouble Google it. I always found these books very helpful for PHP tips.

 

[matas]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
You're teacher probably doesn't even know java. When you run into trouble Google it. I always found these books very helpful for PHP tips.

Yeah, that is exactly, she does not know java. She only knows visual basic and Microsoft word.

 

[degibson]

Drop the class if its a PITA. You're going to relearn everything in college anyway. Enjoy your senior year by avoiding BS.

 

[Onund]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
In the real world, your hand does not get held.

Projects are assigned with requirements.

It is up to the developer to implement those requirements.

Thanks for that insight into the real world. matas is looking for advice on school, you know, where you build your foundation for the real world? Also, in the real world if you're expected to use a new tool, usually your company will send you for training.

For learning Java you can try the Sun resources which I find to be fantastic and the main reason why I like programming in java.

java.sun.com
Tutorials

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Onund

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
In the real world, your hand does not get held.

Projects are assigned with requirements.

It is up to the developer to implement those requirements.

Thanks for that insight into the real world. matas is looking for advice on school, you know, where you build your foundation for the real world? Also, in the real world if you're expected to use a new tool, usually your company will send you for training.

For learning Java you can try the Sun resources which I find to be fantastic and the main reason why I like programming in java.

java.sun.com
Tutorials

I received the impression that he was complaining more that the teacher was not clarifing the assignment. A requirement was handed out and he told to solve it.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: Onund

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Projects are assigned with requirements.
It is up to the developer to implement those requirements.

matas is looking for advice on school, you know, where you build your foundation for the real world?

I received the impression that he was complaining more that the teacher was not clarifying the assignment. A requirement was handed out and he told to solve it.

In my (college) senior level software engineering class, that is basically what we are given... a project with requirements on what the user wants and told to solve it. Some of the requirements are left vague so that we have to communicate with the professor to find out what he wants. He forced us to divide up into teams of certain minimal numbers in order to create the confusion / organization problem of dealing with several people. The teams were set up as companies and we are "competing" against each other to provide the best solution in order to get the fictional contract. We also have to turn in highly detailed technical and "user friendly" documentation on the projects / code along with regularly scheduled progress reports with time-lines and milestones. Heck the professor did not even order us to use a certain language for the current project, picking the correct language for the user's situation / needs / time table seems to be part of the grade.

I assume it gets even worse when one enters the real world. :evil: