[ericHosick]

I've lectured for a few years. Classes like intro to IT, Software Engineering Fundamentals and a few other similar classes.

I think Programming Fundamentals should focus on teaching students how to visual systems (stuff) in the real world and how to make that stuff work in a computer. Basically, the job of a programmer is to take some manual process we do in the real world and automate it in a computer.

But the way the real world works and how you represent that real world in a computer are really different.

I think it is a wrong approach to learn how to do this by learning to code first. That being said....

I would recommend hacking stuff out on paper. Not necessarily the source code though. I wrote a book that tries to explain this stuff without using source code. I think drawing out your ideas using diagrams is a great first start (even UML diagrams can be helpful for this). I'm not saying you should program like this. Diagrams do help you take something in the real world and start to transform it to something more abstract: something that can eventually work in a computer.

Anyway, I'll be happy to give you a free copy of the book (I've given it away a few people on HN who are new to programming).

Also hope this helps answer your question.

[jeira]

Thanks Eric, really appreciated for your offer. I don't know how you generally approach this but I've updated my HN account with my email.

I will continue attending the class and see if it is indeed more abstract and focused on topics like logic and visual stuff. I'll also ask a friend of mine about her experience with the class and the teacher about how the exams are handled.

Once again, thank you for your help. Really appreciated :)

[sp332]

Only mods can see what you put in the "email" field. If you want people to see your email address, put it in the "about" box on your profile.

[jeira]

Done. Thanks for the help.

[ericHosick]

Done

[abbasmehdi]

I'd love to check it out too, Eric.