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What do you do when you don't understand a subject?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by TMac640, Nov 10, 2008.

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  1. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    I guess this is b**** about homework day. Although out of the two demons, Computer Programming I and Calculus I. I'm having a much easier time of it in Calculus I.

    My post is now to gripe about Computer Programming I. I'm taking it online and I'm having a b**** of a time with it. The class at the beginning of the semester was supposed to be an on-campus class, which was going to be better with the face-to-face interaction with the teacher, asking her questions on the fly, asking people around me questions, etc.

    Our class met and 7 people showed up the first day and she said the class probably wasn't going to "make", so we would be moving the class to an online format. I was like, yeah sure that sounds like it's doable. Fast-forward nearly 3 months later and I hate Java. I can't understand any of it. There's 2 people or so in the class that I talk to and get help from , but they aren't always on when I'm doing my HW or should I say "trying" to do my hw.

    The main problem though is reading the textbook. I literally feel like I'm mentally r****ded when I'm skimming through the Java book. Sentences of Java are like sentences of Japanese, they make no ****ing sense. I literally cannot read more than one or two sentences at a time without getting completely lost and this is SUPPOSED to be a beginning level book for Java and a beginning level programming course for Java. I'm trying to eek out just a B because I need a programming class for my associate of science. So I don't care how I get the damn thing out of the way, I just want to get a B in it and throw it out the window. The drop date is in the past (nov 7) and I reluctantly decided to keep it because I'm only taking a 9 hour semester anyway with a part-time job.

    The only problem is I can't quite take my time and break down the components of the chapters slowly because assignments are always due and I'm always struggling to turn things in by the due dates.
     
  2. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    Also, how do you know if it's you and not the course?

    I love computers, but I love being on them. I enjoy building and repairing computers, but programming is like a foreign language. In fact, Java IS another language altogether. Even if I don't go on to become a great programmer, I want to say "I at least understood what was going on in that class." and I feel like the way this class is going I won't be able to say that.
     
  3. professorjay

    professorjay Member

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    Are you getting the concept of the object oriented paradigm? It's the most basic, yet hardest thing to grasp when jumping into programming. That's what seems to weed everyone out in the first year.

    My two programming professors (C++ and Java) made it seem like this grand, esoteric thing. The TA's were much more informative.
     
  4. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

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    Code:
     
    function printConfusingCodeForTMac640() {
    if (bbs.Clutchfans.net.username == "SwoLy-D") {
       print ":"; 
       print "D";
    }
    else {
       print "Normal post. :";
       print "o .";
    }
    
    printConfusingCodeForTMac640();
    
    :D How many classes or assignments have you missed, you lazy bum? Get to work! It just takes practice, yo. It's not really that difficult, if it is "Programming I".
     
  5. Franchise3

    Franchise3 Member

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    I'm basically going through this myself, but with another subject. I'm thinking my textbook is doing a crappy job of explaining it. I'll probably try to look for some more basic explanations on google after I finish reading the assignment.
     
  6. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    When I took that class (or something similar) I actually wound up using a textbook from a different class and it helped tremendously. Almost like cheating. When I was asked why some of my coding was different I explained I used a different textbook, so kill me.

    Also if you have to write complex big things find a good tutor (easier said than done) who can explain it in human terms. A computer science major maybe? I dunno. Goodluck.
     
  7. OGKashMoney

    OGKashMoney Member

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    You go pick up supplements and hope that works out! At least that is what I plan on doing for my Civil Procedure class because that class is ****ing confusing!

    Damn t.v. shows make live as a lawyer so exciting, but the journey sucks all the life out of you. :(
     
  8. Franchise3

    Franchise3 Member

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    Dude, I'm trying to learn the Rule Against Perpetuities while the people who live in the apartment above me are blaring techno music. I want to strangle baby kittens right now.
     
  9. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    I try a bit here and there. $1 Gingko Balboa from the dollar store, twice a day :D. Placebo effect is enough to keep taking it alone, haha.

    Other than that, I try and get some caffeine every 4-5 hours once on waking up and then about 4 or 5 in the evening. Live and die with those energy mix drink packets for water bottles. They're a pretty sweet deal. It all helps some, but all it ends up being is me wide awake with still no understanding of what I've read, lol. It helps with calculus though.
     
  10. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    Have you tried assassinating them?
     
  11. OGKashMoney

    OGKashMoney Member

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    Man, I totally understand your pain! I live in the ghetto of San Francisco and there are crackheads and drug dealers 24/7 outisde my window.

    I hear/see crackheads fighting, drug dealers kicking the **** out of crackheads, drugs dealers kicking the **** out of other drug dealers, and then I have sirens (cops, firefighters, amb.) every hour or so. On top of all this, there is a night club just across the street from me and they are playing music until 5 am and people are outside fighting and ****.

    Just last night, a cop had stopped a car and was searching it for drugs when across the street, two crackheads started shouting and rumbling. The cops just stand there and look. While all this is going on, I am trying to write a my memo so I can go show it to my professor. :mad: And then is a routine, everyday thing.
     
  12. OGKashMoney

    OGKashMoney Member

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    I meant like study aid supplements, but I am also in love with energy drinks. I haven't drank any since like December when I finished undergrad though. Those things are really bad for you. LOL. And I kind of don't need it anymore since my usual bedtime is 3 am. But around 2-3ish I am like a zombie out there. Thats not good! :D
     
  13. orbb

    orbb Member

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    Hang in there.. the more meaningful code you write, the more it makes sense.

    Teaching Java or any other OO language as a first programing course is crazy. You really dont get to appreciate what OO is for and when its appropriate. I've seen newbie 'programmers' wrap simple one-liners in classes. Would probably have a heart attack reading Perl code :D .
     
  14. orbb

    orbb Member

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    Hang in there.. the more meaningful code you write, the more it makes sense. You could try a small pet project on something that seems cool to you. You will ramp up pretty quickly this way

    Teaching Java or any other OO language as a first programing course is crazy. You really dont get to appreciate what OO is for and when its appropriate. I've seen 'programmers' wrap simple one-liners in classes. Would probably have a heart attack reading Perl code :D
     
  15. professorjay

    professorjay Member

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    Damn. Is this in the Tenderloin?
     
  16. OGKashMoney

    OGKashMoney Member

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    Yup. Good old Tenderloins! :D

    Even though it is loud outside most of the time, it kind of gives me some entertainment since I am too busy to go enjoy the rest of the city. The best entertainment is when the drunk people from the club rumble! :D I just get a soda and some chips, sit on by the window and watch a fight!
     
  17. Mr. Brightside

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    The method that always works for me is to get a secondary source for text material. If one textbook doesn't make sense, then find another text with the same material. The information will be presented in a new and different manner usually. This is how I got through 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry in college with A's in both of them.

    Also you can find tutorials and example problems on the internet. Just run a search.
     
  18. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    I've been mulling that idea over the last couple of weeks too. I was too lazy to do anything about it though, lol. It might be slightly late for that now with just a little over a month left in the semester but that's something I definitely need to look into for future courses.
     
  19. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    How do you get work done man? I'd be camping out all day at the school library or whatever if I lived there , lol.
     
  20. bingsha10

    bingsha10 Member

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    I panic and get a bad grade. :D
     

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