CS 112 -- Introduction to CS II

Syllabus for CS 698

Course Description

This course will introduce you to the art and science of teaching. We are primarily interested in university teaching of computer science, of course, but teaching can take many forms and the skills developed in this class are broadly applicable to most aspects of your future career as a PhD in Computer Science, whether you are a professor, researcher, or member of a management team. We will spend about half the term meeting together every week to explore various aspects of the teaching art, and then proceed to the practicum part of the course, where we will video record you and comment on your teaching performance. The instructors would be pleased to talk with you any time about your teaching, of course, so don't hesitate to include us in your thinking about what you are doing in your course this term (in the case that you are currently assigned to a teaching role).

Course Materials and Handouts

All materials will be posted on the web site or handed out at our meetings.

Topics

The schedule of topics we will cover in our meetings are approximately as follows (still under discussion!):

Week/Date Topic and Associated Readings Activities and Assignments

Week 1: 9/7 Meet and Greet; Characteristics of good and bad teachers Discussion of good/bad teaching (in class)

Week 2: 9/14 Foundations: Learning and Teaching Styles Plan a lesson following two different teaching styles.

Week 3: 9/21 Efffective Speaking and Teaching: The Theater of the classroom; Reading "The Habits of an Effective Speaker" Prepare a short (3 minute) presentation explaining some activity you are passionate (or at least interested in); it can be about computer science, but need not.

Week 4: 9/28 Effective Speaking and Teaching: Rhetoric and logic of exposition Prepare an outline of a lesson on a computer science topic of your choosing.

Week 5: 10/5 Mechanics of Running a Class I:

Week 6: 10/12 Mechanics II:

Week 7: 10/19 Classroom Assessment: Designing tests and assignments; grading fairly and efficiently; Academic honesty at BU.

Week 8: 10/26 Beginning of Practicum: Sample Lecture by Instructors, evaluation by class

Week/Date	Topic and Associated Readings	Activities and Assignments
Week 1: 9/7	Meet and Greet; Characteristics of good and bad teachers	Discussion of good/bad teaching (in class)
Week 2: 9/14	Foundations: Learning and Teaching Styles	Plan a lesson following two different teaching styles.
Week 3: 9/21	Efffective Speaking and Teaching: The Theater of the classroom; Reading "The Habits of an Effective Speaker"	Prepare a short (3 minute) presentation explaining some activity you are passionate (or at least interested in); it can be about computer science, but need not.
Week 4: 9/28	Effective Speaking and Teaching: Rhetoric and logic of exposition	Prepare an outline of a lesson on a computer science topic of your choosing.
Week 5: 10/5	Mechanics of Running a Class I:
Week 6: 10/12	Mechanics II:
Week 7: 10/19	Classroom Assessment: Designing tests and assignments; grading fairly and efficiently; Academic honesty at BU.
Week 8: 10/26	Beginning of Practicum: Sample Lecture by Instructors, evaluation by class