Problem Solving Workshop

Problem solving is a crucial skill for computer science students to master. Most instruction in problem solving either assumes latent uptake (through practice with course materials), or, when explicit, is presented in parallel with new course material (requiring high cognitive overhead). We present an assignment, designed as a one-day workshop, which aims to explicitly teach problem-solving skills using simple programming tasks. Preliminary trials of the workshop show promising student engagement.

Materials

Assignment Summary
Checklist tool
Blank problem-solving worksheet
Tic-tac-toe problem-solving worksheet
Tic-tac-toe task files
Robot finds kitten task files