The active learning method of instruction used in this course encourages you to take charge of your own learning experience. The professor's main role is to step you through the material and guide you in the learning process, and also serve as a reservoir of knowledge and enthusiasm. Another non-traditional aspect of the course is a heavy emphasis on groupwork. Groups are ubiquitous in today's highly interconnected society and workplace. You will almost certainly work in a group, especially if you become a programmer or a systems analyst.
Groups can also make learning more fun and relaxed.
Studies show that students tend to have higher anxiety about performance if they are asked to complete a complex or unfamiliar task on their own, while those same persons working in a group display much more confidence. People in a group can teach and encourage each other, as well as learn how to get along with all kinds of people. The drawback to groupwork is an occasional overreliance on others and diminution of personal effort. This class has been structured so that your grade depends equally on individual effort and group effort. You will need to both work on your own and work effectively in your group in order to get a good grade.