A first semester freshman project

Abstract

This case study continues our effort to introduce complex systems development projects into the college curriculum at the earliest possible moment. In our previous work, we demonstrated that sophomores were quite capable of developing a complex encryption system in assembly language; we also discussed the success of second semester freshman developing multi-game, client-server casino systems in C#. Our next pedagogical challenge was to determine whether freshman could master the basics of C programming rapidly enough to complete the WWII German Encryption system during their first semester in college. In this article we describe how a project based learning pedagogy, combined with a Socratic-like method, once again led entering freshmen to success.