Re:Notes on Data Structures and Programming Techniques
by andai on Sunday October 15, 2017 @06:31AM
(#15476593)
Sounds like universities would benefit from having separate "learning tracks" for students of varying ability like in many high schools.
Or more realistically, taking a more layered approach to each course. So you could have the basic "code algorithm X to pass the tests" level (the kind of work most people will be doing later anyway), and then the "let's prove properties of X / come up with an alternative with the same properties" for people who can pass the first part in their sleep.
The best courses I've taken work like that already, plenty of extra challenges if you finish early. But it takes a dedicated instructor to make it work, and most of them unfortunately seem dedicated to getting by with minimum effort.
Or more realistically, taking a more layered approach to each course. So you could have the basic "code algorithm X to pass the tests" level (the kind of work most people will be doing later anyway), and then the "let's prove properties of X / come up with an alternative with the same properties" for people who can pass the first part in their sleep.
The best courses I've taken work like that already, plenty of extra challenges if you finish early. But it takes a dedicated instructor to make it work, and most of them unfortunately seem dedicated to getting by with minimum effort.