🚀 go-pugleaf

Peter,
Good luck with this course. I have taught it since it was introduced 
(1987ish?) and it is quite fascinating and has proven to be very useful. 
The concept of case studies has been approached in a number of different 
ways. I have done it by trying to find 'real-life' problems that students 
can work on generally in groups of 1 (is that a group?) to 4. Since they 
are dealing with real clients who often have a fairly vague idea of what 
they want done, the students have to become very good at needs 
assessment, frequent client validation of progress and so on. The kinds 
of things that have been done include such things as a CDROM done in 
Visual Basic which is an archive of the school, a multimedia dental 
education program done for the local (North York) health department, an 
anniversary yearbook (c 100 page, hard cover glossy) done for a yacht 
club, school home page (web.idirect,com/~compayj), etc

Finding the projects (of appropriate scope and difficulty) is not a 
trivial task (in fact it continues year round), but the whole process has 
been most rewarding for the kids, clients and me.

In addition to the major project, students do an ISP (1200-1500 words 
most are desk top published to a greater or lesser extent on a leading 
edge technology (e.g. neural networks, future concepts in microprocessor 
design, use of computers in archeology). They must do presentations of 
both their major projects and ISP. This year I introduced a book review 
of an appropriate fiction (e.g Cyberserfs) or nonfiction book (Gates 
book). A major focus in our school is literacy development so we have 
pushed this in the course.

BTW, I have addressed this to the group not just to Peter so perhaps we 
can start a discussion of ideas for this course. 


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Bruce Clark			[ -- "In times of change, learners inherit
Computer Studies Department	]     the earth, while the learned find
AY Jackson Secondary School	[     themselves beautifully equipped to
50 Francine Drive		]     deal with the world that no longer
North York, Ontario		[     exists. 
Canada, M2H 2G6			]			-- Eric Hoffer
bclark@oise.on.ca
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On Thu, 27 Feb 1997, Peter Diaz wrote:

> I have just been hired to teach the OAC Computer Science course.
> Having never taught the course I would really appreciate any
> ideas/advice from anybody who has experience with the course.  Thanks
> in advance.
> 	Peter
> 
>