What I am facing as university instructor of Computer science program, how can we deal with it ?

[Psyko70]

Hello everyone,
With the rapid rise of AI tools, our traditional approach to teaching programming seems increasingly outdated. Many first-year CS students struggle to develop real programming logic because FOP and OOP courses, as currently structured, no longer match how this generation learns. Syntax can now be generated instantly, but critical thinking and problem-solving cannot. Should we rethink how we teach programming in the AI era to focus more on computational thinking and design rather than manual coding?

The Current Model (HEC-Style Programming Foundation)​

Typical first-year structure:

1. FOP (Fundamentals of Programming) → logic, syntax, and basic I/O (usually in C/C++/Python)
2. OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) → classes, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation
3. DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms) → arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, etc.

The assumption behind this sequence was:

• Students will master logic and syntax in FOP,
• Then apply structured thinking in OOP,
• Then use abstraction and algorithms in DSA.

The Reality (2025 Student Behavior)​

1. FOP is too steep.
   
   • Students meet programming for the first time and are expected to handle both logical reasoning and syntax simultaneously.
   • They get overwhelmed, memorize examples, and lose confidence early.
     
2. OOP becomes a “buzzword” course.
   
   • By the time they reach OOP, most haven’t fully understood how code flows or how to solve real problems.
   • So OOP turns into a syntax demo (class–object–inheritance examples) rather than a design mindset.
     
3. DSA collapses under weak foundations.
   
   • Students struggle with recursion, memory models, and abstraction because the base logic wasn’t formed properly.
   • They rely on copying code from GitHub or ChatGPT without deep understanding.
     
4. Result:
   You get graduates who can “use code” but not “think computationally.”

---

Why the FOP + OOP Model Feels Outdated​

The FOP→OOP→DSA pipeline was designed in the 1990s, when:

• IDEs were primitive,
• No AI tools existed,
• Students came from math-heavy backgrounds, and
• The industry emphasized object-oriented languages (C++, Java).
  

In the AI + Python + Web + Game era, the following truths hold:

• Syntax is not the barrier anymore.
• Conceptual understanding and design thinking are.
• Students learn faster through visual, interactive, and project-based methods.

What do you fellow members think we need to do ?

 

[313Ghazi]

Try teach it in pseudo-code, or simple logic games that you can find online to teach children programming. It doesn't matter the students age, the logical flow needs to be hammered into the heads first.

 

[313Ghazi]

Also embrace AI, encourage students to use AI to solve problems, but let them know what they will be examined on their understanding without the assistance of AI.

 

[Psyko70]

Try teach it in pseudo-code, or simple logic games that you can find online to teach children programming. It doesn't matter the students age, the logical flow needs to be hammered into the heads first.

Thanks sir for response means a lot.

Pseudo code is already part of it. But as soon as they reach the 4th semester, in advanced courses they are lacking the logic needed. I discussed with Dean and initiating through ORIC and external relations department to divide logic building and syntax-programming courses separate. currently in BS computer science only two courses are about programming one is oop other FOP. In FOP its alot for new generation students to cope with logic building, syntax programming.

 

[Psyko70]

Also embrace AI, encourage students to use AI to solve problems, but let them know what they will be examined on their understanding without the assistance of AI.

That is what I am trying to convey to upper authorities, forcing them not to use AI is sin. I am doing Very good projects on remote job and Ai is what my boss says use to do task faster.

 

[baqai]

instead of having them write a code (for which they will use A.I and claim to have written), why not take A.I written code of a popular project (PACMAN game for instance) and dissect the workings and help them improve it

 

[Psyko70]

instead of having them write a code (for which they will use A.I and claim to have written), why not take A.I written code of a popular project (PACMAN game for instance) and dissect the workings and help them improve it

Great Idea thanks.

 

[baqai]

Great Idea thanks.

no problem, that's what i do with my team as well.

 

[dbc]

Software Engineers are on the endangered species list.

 

[Psyko70]

Software Engineers are on the endangered species list.

Yes they are. So are other fields with Ai the finance, project management, QA part also.

 

[PakFactor]

Yes they are. So are other fields with Ai the finance, project management, QA part also.

Accounting and Finance is also on the list of jobs to be downsized.

 

[Skukuza]

Hi. My grandson is studying 2nd year computer engineering. He speaks about codes and a whole lot of other stuff which totally confuses me. I'm going to try and send him the posts here in the hope that it helps him

 

[Starlord]

Bhai mujhe bhi thodi buhat coding seekha de Allah ke naam pe lol I have tried to learn on my own accord and give up within a week everytime

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

FOP and OOP courses, ​

How can you teach OOP when python ( yes, everything is an object) and javascript languages these days don't even encourage it.

Yes, we are going backwards.

Yes, my OOP encourages "yo-yoing" but that actually finds bugs since my methods are shared by multiple actions instead of turning into an edge case triggered by an "if" statement that runs some local code block that because it was untested is broken.