Beyond objects-first: a project-driven CS2 course

Authors:
E. Frank Barry;Christopher C. Ellsworth;Barry L. Kurtz;James T. Wilkes
Affiliations:
Appalachian State University;Appalachian State University;Appalachian State University;Appalachian State University
Venue:
Proceedings of the 44th annual Southeast regional conference
Year:
2006

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Abstract

After we adopted an objects-first approach in CS1, we had to redesign our CS2 and data structures courses. This paper reports on our efforts to develop a project-driven CS2 course that expands on the object-oriented methodology introduced in the CS1 course. We omitted some traditional data structures material and focused on using data structures in meaningful, large-scale projects that guided the course content. This helped students understand why these structures are important before concentrating on implementation in the subsequent data structures and algorithms course. This paper focuses on the pedagogical aspects of our CS2 course; a companion paper [4] discusses object-oriented methodology in more detail.