Fun and Interactive Activities for an Introductory Computer Science Course of 200 Students

Research has shown that students learn and perform better in learning environments that are interactive [1]. Teaching a freshman-level introductory course in computer science (CS) can be challenging, because most students are unaware of what computer scientists do and have never been introduced to basic computer science concepts. Using a series of hands-on interactive activities throughout the semester can introduce CS topics in a fun way while relating the topics to familiar everyday experiences. All the activities listed below do not require a computer lab, are extremely cost-effective, and require minimum preparation: (1) Understanding Variables and Arrays with Paper Bags [2], (2) Branching and Looping Statements with Starburst Candies [2], (3) Loops with Music [3], (4) Arrays with Tissue Boxes, DVD Sets, Paper Plates, and other Household Goods [2], (5) Monsters Hate Chocolate: Learning Try/Catch Blocks [2], (6) General Class Structure with Bags, Boxes, and a Bin [2], (7) Dr. Doolittle’s Vet Office: Learning Classes with Stuffed Animals [2], (8) Sorting Algorithms with Paper Bags [3, 6, 7], and (9) Recursion Introduction: Simple Tower of Hanoi with Colored Paper [3]. The authors designed these activities to be done with a variety of age groups and various numbers of students, however, the activities have never been tired with classes larger than 50 [2, 3]. This paper will explore the challenges and logistics of adapting these activities to a forum style lecture hall with approximately 200 students in attendance. Additionally, any revised activity instructions from [2, 3] will be provided.Cockrell School of Engineerin