Community Outreach(on 9/19/14)

By: Jeffrey Cain

The Program

What the program does

This program gives the player 2 randomized playing cards and shows 1 randomized dealer card. If the player’s cards don’t equal 21 and the player wants another card, he/she can ask for as many cards as they want. If their total is greater than 21, then they lose and the dealer wins. If the dealer has a higher total than the player then the dealer wins. If the player has a higher total than the dealer then the player wins

The point of the outreach

With the many different types of variables, imports, loops, methods, and if-else statements to show students some basic coding syntax used in a program. Also talk about the theory behind some of the complex coding.

My experience

Speaking in front of many people about programming was very weird. I had to explain everything that I was doing, which is very different compared to programming by myself. I have read that I should definitely slow down and not talk too fast. They were all very helpful and many of the students learned some new things (Array’s, loops, text based).

Survey results

84% male 16% female

Mostly Sophomore and Senior (40%, 32%)

Most of the students said they wanted to learn Java and C++, many even said they wanted to learn other languages

My teaching was between fine and amazing

Most knew a tiny bit of what I was saying (44%)

92% of students learned something new

68% said they would be fine with another class taught by a caps student

Some are interested in continuing programming ( 16% in caps, 28% in college