Computer Information Systems Help?

Question

I don't know...I feel overwhelmed. I've never taken Java before until now and ever since the first class I feel...horrible. I know I want to code...I enjoy it when it works correctly...but the teachers are so horrible at teaching it, they don't give information on what the syntax is or what things mean...it's just supposed to be general knowledge or something.

I want to do this...I am scared to death of failing. If I fail, then what do I got? I got nothing...this is my last shot. I can't get anything lower than a B...otherwise employers won't hire me. No one wants anything in the 2.0 range.

So what advice do you have for someone majoring in CIS? Anything to make it easier or more efficient...especially in learning about Java and programming?

Answer 1

I understand completely...I also teach.

Some teachers just should not be teachers.



What I tell my students is this; I can only give you so much, you have to do work too.

Whether the teacher is great or not.

Google things, phrases you dont understand, words you don't understand, ask for help, ask lots of questions, go to office hours. Never expect, in any class, to get it all from the teacher.

You should want to know more, want to look at other books, websites, tutorials.

To me a textbook is a guide and there are plenty of them. I need to look at many to find something I feel will make sense. Or just make it up myself. But a student needs to do the same. Sometimes another person (or web site etc) says it the way you need to understand it.



Forget about failing and jobs right now. Don't get distracted by the grade. First employers dont look at a grade. They will give you code to debug or code to write.



It should be that you find something so curious you need to look for more examples. You MUST write the code, MUST use a pencil and paper and trace the variables, see what they are doing. Use printouts every where to see whats going on in loops (take them out later).



I find many students come to me and say I don't get it.

Ok, which part.

All of it.

Ok, we start again. What did you read in the book and let me see your notes.

I didn't read the book and/or I didn't take notes. (or if they did, I and the student can hardly read them).



So its not always the teacher. But presuming it is, you're stuck with him/her. So, get out there and find out, get other students to work together. NEVER feel like they all get it, trust me they don't.

I need to know if the student is getting it and I only know if they ask questions. The student needs to stop me when I say any questions. Stop me when I am doing something and ask to explain before going further.



Its not you, its just learning how to learn, or how YOU learn. And it applies to all subjects.



So ask questions, use other sources and don't give up because the teacher sucks. That doesn't mean you do.



Good luck and stick with it !!!

Answer 2

Coding can be very challenging, as matter of fact, can cause you to lose hair because its often hard to debug code and write code efficiently. What is stopping you from going on Amazon or Local Bookstore and finding another Java Programming book? One that has plenty of examples and exercises with solutions to check your progress. Find one on Amazon with excellent reviews and comprehensive.

Your going to have to really challenge yourself and spend time on it and understand what your reading because your filling in the gaps your not learning from your instructor or book. Well if your instructor is horrible, the book he recommends is going to be horrible. Been there, done that. You can't just expect to whip a book out and read it from beginning to end and say "I'm an expert programmer"

Programming is learned through mistakes and TIME!! The more time you spend on it, the better you get. Took me 6 years to learn C and C++ and i'm still learning. The language keeps changing too.

Answer 3

I have a CIS and all you have to do is read the book and chapter over and over word by word till you understand everything if you don't understand read it till you do. You don't have to be smart you just have to study hard and put all the effort you can into it. Seriously read the book over and over answer every question and toughen up.