SDC Intro to Programming

[homeschoolmom1]

Our son is attempting to do the SDC Intro to Programming (which is Java based) before the assignments are added on June 27th. 

Let me tell you, for an absolute beginner, this course is practically impossible. It assumes that you already have a basic knowledge in Java. It does not explain the basics and jumps right into the nitty gritty, without even going over syntax and methods etc.

What he has been doing is watching the lectures of this course that correspond to the SDC chapter. This course is awesome for complete beginners. Very well explained, and starts from zero. With that, he is able to grasp the SDC videos a bit better, and with a mix of sheer luck and by strategic exclusion of answers, he is doing ok on the quizzes. Will see how he does on the proctored exam. 

https://www.udemy.com/course/java-for-ab...UST4U02223

If he doesn't pass it, he will either self study for some more time and then just do the assignments on SDC, or just do the Sophia versions.

I think SDC could have done better on this course. I wonder if they had complaints, and because it is easier to just add assignments than redo all of the videos, that is the route they are taking.

[legenwait4itdary]

I am actually taking a different approach. I was supposed to take it now but once I noticed the assignments were coming up I decided to wait. In my opinion, this approach would also work better for your son. Since he is struggling now, he might have a difficult time getting 55% on the final. With assignments, it is very likely he will need much less on the final. Assignments can be done slowly, and he can make sure he gets them right and resubmit for a better grade. It is just my opinion, but I think he would find it more manageable if he waited for the assignments. They will also give him the opportunity to practice the concepts mentioned in the lessons which should improve his understanding.

[homeschoolmom1]

I think we will combine the two approaches. He is working on the quizzes now (he does 10 per day, since he spends an additional 1-2 hours per day on Udemy Java). He will do the exam for the first time on June 22rd. If he fails, will do exam again on June 26th. (if he passes, will do US history for the second exam this month). If he fails the Intro to Programming exam again, will wait until after June 27th and submit assignments. Our subscription ends on July 6th, so either way I hope he will pass it by then. He is only 14 years old (homeschooled), so I am not pushing speed for him, rather than actual understanding of the material.

Either way, he will spend at least another year on learning the fundamentals of Java before doing the Data Structures course. I think it is really crucial to have a firm grasp on algorithms and data structures.

[bluebooger]

anyone thinking of doing a udemy course be aware that you should NEVER pay full price for the course

they go on sale just about every other week                              
for between $11.99 and $24.99

I have done udemy courses on tableau, sql server, R, sdl2, A+ and network+              
some courses are really great           
some are garbage            

as for java, this is usually considered one of he best java courses on the internet                 
https://java-programming.mooc.fi/

like udemy, it is non-credit, so you would be doing it for knowledge only

[homeschoolmom1]

Appreciate the heads up on the Java course from the University of Helsinki. I had not come across that one yet. And, second that on the Udemy courses. I don't think I have spent more than $15 on any of them.

[bjcheung77]

I would stick with one provider at a time and then when you're done, go to another provider, as you'll be using one subscription at a time instead of paying for multiple subscriptions. Find some cheap or freebie options to supplement the learning as not every course provider 'goes' into everything in the class, there are differences in the content and material taught even though the name of the classes are identical or similar.

[AllThose299s]

I can't speak for the SDC Intro to Programming course, but I completed the SDC Data Structures course without previous knowledge in Java—granted I have programming experience—but I felt there was enough details covered in the Data Structures to be able to complete the assignment and understand it.

Knowing how some of the courses are with SDC, it is possible that the Intro to Programming course might be missing certain sections of information which the Data Structures course might cover, granted I also took some of my SDC courses in reverse— so I might be slightly off on that, but I remember that some courses overlapped on content and included parts which would have been useful in another course.

I'm currently doing the Sophia Intro to Programming Java Course, completed all the challenges, read all the material, took the practice milestones so I could write a review on it once I complete it — the first 2 units I felt covered the basics to programming fine. The third unit well... it's not bad....but having taken Object Oriented Programming 1 & 2 back in my brick and mortar days, I can vision students having some difficulties with unit 3.

The touchstone project reminds me how much I dislike Java as a language, if your son has issues with the SDC Intro to Programming course, don't let it get him discouraged, personally it's always great to hear someone at his age learning how to program. He might have better luck with Sophia's Java course (or the python one — granted he will still need to tackle Java with the SDC Data Structures course)

[homeschoolmom1]

So our son gave up on the Intro to Programming course on SDC. He got through the Input/Output and the Loops and Functions, but he was completely lost with the arrays and the algorithm chapters in the second half of the course. There is a reason that the quizzes of this Intro course populate half of the Data Structures course, since it probably covers a good portion of data structures and algorithms. At the end of the day, I am sure it is an easy course for someone who already knows how to code in Java, but it is a terrible course for LEARNING Java.

I think we will either do the Python Sophia course now, or just wait a year or two, self study Java in the meantime with codecademy or freecodecamp and then tackle both the SDC Data Structures and the Intro to Programming courses in the same month of a subscription. 

If I cancel the SDC subscription (not just pause it), does he lose all his quiz progress?

[allvia]

If I cancel the SDC subscription (not just pause it), does he lose all his quiz progress?

No, you don't lose anything. If (when) you sign back up it will be as you left things.

[IetsMooi]

I speedran if from Saturday and finished it yesterday. Hopefully it won't be a problem that the exam grade/proctoring won't be completed until after the changes go into force. My Java knowledge is bad, but I do know some C and PHP, and understand the basics of OOP. So managed a 99% on the quizzes, and 77% on the exam. Hoping it wasn't all for nothing. Intro to Java is next, they have quite the quiz overlap. Will be taking that more leisurely than this one.