Overall, this year has been pretty great. Despite the ups and downs, I thoroughly enjoyed the class and it was often my favorite ( I think this might have been obvious considering the amount of time I spent in that room, skipping other classes to make time for coding). Despite this, there are a few comments and concerns that I had about the class.
First off, I think it would be extremely helpful to make the entire curriculum available at the beginning of the year. I say this because there were many occasions when I had free time, but nothing to do. Additionally, I had no idea where the next lesson was going and what I should learn in order to get ahead. This also help a lot considering the fact that there were many times when I felted extremely cramped for time and pressured by deadlines. By offering the entire curriculum at the beginning of the year, I believe that it would be easier to spread the work out and complete it at our own pace, getting ahead if that is what we want or sticking with Mr. Stephen’s pace if that is what we want. I’m not saying that we should stop the lectures and change the due dates, all I am saying is that it would be nice to give us the opportunity to jump ahead if we have the time and drive.
Looking into the future, I really wish there was another structured computer programming class because I find it so enjoyable and wish to continue my education in the field. I have looked at the ‘Advanced Computer Programming’ class, but when talking to kids in the class currently, it seems like it just isn't for me. Current students in that course say that it is pretty much a free period, with no guidance, no lectures, and independent work. I have heard the idea tossed around that there would be another class added on in the future in which the lessons were continued and the labs were in C++, Python, and Java. What this class would allow me to is keep the structure of our AP class while continuing to push me academically, teaching me new topics and techniques.
A petty comment about the classroom: I wish there were enough chairs. In our APCS class, when every student is in attendance, there are almost always two people left without the comfy rolling chairs who are forced to sit in short, hard, and uncomfortable regular chairs. I don’t know where the other chairs went. I feel like there used to be enough at the beginning of the year. Are the film kids taking them? If that is the case, I think we should lead a raid on their classroom and take back the two chairs that are rightfully ours. This would, in essence, reduce the amount of inter-peer conflict and create and more efficient and safer learning environment for everybody.
Finally: keep it up Mr. Stephens. I love this class and I guess you are pretty cool too. I promise you that I will visit A LOT next year and spend excess time in your room while skipping calculus, organic chemistry, and anatomy. BYE!
Beck Out...
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