Instead of blackboards and a lecture, a C++ computer programming course being taught to high school students in Lake County involves an instructor at one remote site communicating with students at four high schools via videoconferencing, Internet chat rooms and e-mail.
Taught by Bob Parker at the Lake County Technology Campus at Grayslake, 15 students from Antioch, Grant and Deerfield/Highland Park and Mundelein High Schools meet electronically each day. The students are learning C++ programming through real-time videoconferencing and Internet technologies.
C++ programming has emerged as a dominant programming language, and the newly formed class is geared toward teaching students enough computer science and C++ programming to pass advanced-placement college board tests for which they may receive college credit. “It’s pretty heavy-duty material. It’s all college level,” Parker said. “It’s an early-bird class offered from 7 to 8 a.m. as an extra option for students who want to be computer science majors in college.”
Few high school teachers are trained to teach C++, yet students are interested in learning the language.
“I can broadcast to all of them at once or each of them individually,” said Parker, who conducts live classes each morning from his desk at the Grayslake campus.”Our philosophy is learning by doing,” he said, “rather than learning by listening.”
