\include{6001mac}

\title{IAP Course Proposal\\
 Building Programming Experience, A lead-in to 6.001}
\author{Ben Vandiver}

\begin{document}
\maketitle

\section*{Objective}

This course will serve as an aggressively gentle introduction to
programming for those students who lack background in the field.
Specifically targeted at students with little or no programming
experience, the course seeks to reach a set of students that are
normally turned away from 6.001 and course 6 because they feel they
lack the prerequisites.

The main focus of the course will be acquiring programming experience:
instruction in the programming fundamentals coupled with lots of
practice problems.  It will be aggressive in the amount of programming
required, but gentle due to the support delivered to the students.

\section*{Structure}

6 units of P/D/F credit during IAP.

\subsection*{Delivery}

\begin{itemize}
\item 9 days long (probably January 10th-21st)
\item 3 hours of class per day
\item 2 hours of homework per day
\end{itemize}

\subsection*{Evaluation}
\begin{itemize}
\item 7 problem sets, each due the next day
\item 1 quiz, designed to be a scaled-down version of 6.001 quiz 1
\end{itemize}

\section*{Syllabus}

\begin{enumerate}
\item Problem visualization
\item Basic scheme
\item Debugging
\item Writing procedures
\item Recursive solutions
\item Lists and Data structures
\item Higher-order procedures
\end{enumerate}

\section*{Resources}

Due to the interactive nature of the lab sessions, a high instructor
to student ratio is necessary.

\begin{itemize}
\item One primary instructor\footnote{If I get research funding for
next term, I may have to bow out and find someone else to take over.}
leads the lectures and develops the problem sets and quiz.  This
position is enough work (preparing and delivering) and responsibility
to merit a TA-ship.

\item A set of 4 secondary instructors help run lab.  A couple of
people should be available outside of class time for help with problem
sets.  The secondary instructors are drawn from the pool of lab
assistants and would each be working 3-4 hours a day.

\item Either a teaching cluster or a laptop loaner program.\footnote{One option being explored is using the TEAL room.}
\end{itemize}

\section*{Assessment}

Student performance will be tracked during 6.001 and compared with
those students who lack programming background but did not take part
in the IAP course.  Additionally, their subsequent choice of major
could be tracked.

\end{document}
