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    My experience learning software languages is that lecture is essentially useless and you're better off just reading the language reference. In my experience the lecturer usually gets many things wrong, omits information about critical language features, and generally teaches poor code style. Even my FPGA class, I found the verilog compiler spec easier to learn from than the lectures.
    – AJMansfield
    Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 5:08
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    My best programming classes all were either a 15-30 minute lecture with the rest involving individual or small group practical work or projects (more industry) or the lecture then practical in lab alternating schedule that you suggest (math/statistical programming which have longer lessons to show the connection of concepts). I try and do this when I teach now as I've found working in these smaller groups or having this practical side makes it much easier for students to understand concepts and practices.
    – LinkBerest Left - SO is AI Now
    Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 12:36
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    @AJMansfield If all you need to learn is the syntax, that's not unreasonable. But if you need to learn structured programming, design for test, how to go about writing a good FPGA testbench, the change of headset which is functional programming, or anything like that, then the lecture session (with coding which is up to best-practise standards) is really the best way to go.
    – Graham
    Commented Mar 27, 2017 at 9:48
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    @AJMansfield: While my perception of software language classes is generally the same as yours, I found this to usually be the result of "those who can, do -- those who cannot, teach". As a counterexample, I've had two excellent lecturers that were well worth listening to closely, and incidentially, both these courses had nearly no practical time. (It was expected that the students would experiment on their own, but that was not part of the course.) It's funny how much attention you start paying when expected to solve C++ assignments on paper (i.e. no edit / compile / test cycle)...
    – DevSolar
    Commented Mar 27, 2017 at 12:34
  • What is an XY problem? Perhaps a hyperlink would be useful here.
    – I Like to Code
    Commented Mar 27, 2017 at 13:19