In thinking about the CMP program and how it could run most efficiently, I put together a list of what I think are the most important skills for students to have upon entering the class. Here is the list, loosely organized by importance. Note: These skills will be further developed throughout the student’s career at ECTS, but it is important to have a solid foundation to start from.
Important skills to have when entering the CMP program
- Ability to type at least 25 words per minute
- Obviously, there is a lot of typing in the CMP class, and often times it is following along with live demonstrations. While reasonable time is provided in the demos, inability to keep up can disrupt the learning experience for both the student and his/her peers.
- Ability to Communicate Clearly
- Proficiency in expressing thoughts, ideas, and problem-solving approaches verbally and in writing.
- The ability to communicate clearly demonstrates an understanding of what is trying to be conveyed. This is important in both problem solving and in team environments.
- Fluency in Writing
- This goes along with the ability to communicate clearly, but it is an important part of the program with respect to building a portfolio. Students should be capable of producing written artifacts that are clear in their purpose and free of typos and grammatical errors.
- Reading Comprehension
- Most tasks for a programmer are conveyed and articulated through a ticketing system. This means it is important to be able to read and understand written instructions.
- Persistence and Patience
- Willingness to engage in trial and error, debugging, and iterative problem-solving processes.
- Time Management
- Skill to organize tasks effectively, meet deadlines, and balance programming assignments with other academic responsibilities.
- Attention to Detail
- Ability to pay close attention to small elements and understand their significance.
- It is not uncommon for students to have issues due to misspellings, missing symbols, and/or simply neglecting to read error messages. This happens to all programmers at times, but having the ability to identify the issue and work through it on your own is important.
- Curiosity and Eagerness to Learn
- Desire to explore new concepts, technologies, and programming languages beyond the curriculum.
- Basic Understanding of Algebra
- Ability to solve simple equations and understand mathematical expressions commonly used in programming.
- Collaborative Skills
- Ability and willingness to work effectively in groups, participate in discussions, and contribute to team projects.
- Logical Thinking
- Capability to analyze problems and break them down into smaller, manageable components.
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Capacity to approach challenges with a creative and analytical mindset, seeking multiple solutions.
Google Quiz created for a basic assessment of these skills (for what can be assessed via multiple choice): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEHNYSZvp17oO9zQlQXuveY1bIFi1Urap6cnAo0l3o7GcNiw/viewform?usp=sf_link
