Unit 3 - Reflection

Unit 3: Strategy for Teaching Coding

In Unit 3, I learned about different strategies for teaching coding, and it gave me new insights into how programming can be effectively taught and learned. One of the key areas we explored was web tutorials.

From my understanding, web tutorials are online learning resources that guide learners step by step through coding concepts and practical exercises. The characteristics of web tutorials include being interactive, flexible, and often self-paced. They are usually well-structured with examples, videos, or tasks that make learning coding more approachable.

I realized that web tutorials come with both benefits and challenges. On the positive side, they provide flexibility since I can learn at my own pace and revisit the content anytime. They also give me the chance to explore real-world coding examples. However, one challenge is that it requires strong self-discipline, and sometimes without a teacher’s presence, I may feel lost if I do not understand something clearly.

We also discussed how to use web tutorials effectively. I feel it is important not just to passively watch or read but to actively code along, experiment with the examples, and reflect on what I have learned. Using tutorials as supplementary material to reinforce classroom lessons can make learning more effective.

Another strategy we studied was PRIMM (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, and Make). I found PRIMM to be very practical in coding education. Each stage has its own purpose:

Predict – where I try to guess what the code will do.

Run – where I execute the code and observe the outcome.

Investigate – where I analyze how the code works.

Modify – where I make changes to understand it better.

Make – where I create something of my own.

The benefits of PRIMM are that it helps me think critically, learn step by step, and gradually build confidence in coding. It doesn’t just teach me to copy code but to understand and create independently.

Lastly, we did a group activity that made me reflect even deeper. Group A argued that web tutorials are more effective and can replace traditional classes, while Group B argued that live classes are more effective. Personally, I could see both sides. From Group A’s point of view- web tutorials provide more freedom and flexibility, which can make learning coding easier for self-motivated learners. But from Group B’s point of view- live classes give opportunities for direct interaction, immediate feedback, and guidance, which are sometimes more valuable than learning alone.

Through this discussion, I realized that both strategies have their strengths, and the best approach might be to combine web tutorials with live classes. This way, learners can enjoy the flexibility of online resources while still benefiting from the guidance and interaction in traditional teaching.

I created the Mind-map according to my understanding of the lesson content.