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Yesterday in the Inf-Einf-B Study and Code Space: A student asks about “identifying characteristics” of sorting algorithms. Clearly formulated, exam-oriented.

This encounter highlighted a core dilemma in computer science education. We often reduce complex algorithms to retrievable facts: Bubble Sort - linear runtime in the best case, quadratic in the worst case. Correct, but superficial.

This situation reveals a fundamental problem in computer science education. We package complex algorithms into boxes. We reduce them to bullet points and runtime classes. Students memorize these. They write them down in exams. And forget them afterward.

What remains? Not much.

Instead of answering the student’s question with more facts, I took my time. We worked through the algorithms with simple examples. Step by step. Element by element. Bubble Sort with an already sorted array? Selection Sort with reverse sorting? This hands-on approach makes abstract concepts tangible. This way, I can derive the runtime intuitively without having to memorize it.

Was this approach successful? Hard to say. The student listened. He nodded. Whether genuine understanding emerged or just polite interest remains open. The exam will show – if a question about sorting algorithms comes up 😜

As educators, we face this tension daily: promoting deep understanding while simultaneously preparing for exams that often reward factual knowledge.

Our “Study and Code Space” was an attempt to defuse this conflict - a space for both: exam-relevant facts and genuine understanding.

30 students benefited from this, some spending up to seven hours with us yesterday. Over 200 are registered for the exam. How do we reach the others?

We’ll keep at it.

This post first appeared on LinkedIn.

7-hour learning marathon with 30 students, 4 tutors, and 1 professor – but was the first “Inf-Einf-B Study and Code Space” worth it? The exam will tell. 🧐

What fascinates me: The enormous range of questions. One moment I’m helping an international student debug their Coleman-Liau Readability Index in VS Code using a mix of German and English, the next I’m showing how to switch between windows on the exam laptops using Alt+Tab and how to select text using Shift and arrow keys. It’s incredible how different the digital skills are among computer science students!

The plan seems to have worked: The atmosphere was occasionally a bit tense (traffic jam at the coffee machine!), but overall very relaxed. A productive climate emerged where groups learned both from each other and from us.

This low-threshold approach – no frontal repetition, but simply providing a room and a few helpful people – seems to be exactly what’s needed during the intensive exam preparation phase. The shared time hopefully creates better learning effects – it definitely boosted team spirit.

Together instead of alone – a format we will definitely continue.

The associated lecture can be found here: https://inf.zone/

This post first appeared on LinkedIn.