I occasionally have the privilege of watching some really great teachers at work. You know they are great because you simply can't ignore them. They know their subject matter inside out and they have the charisma and larger-than-life personalities to deliver it with drama and panache.
Just last week, David Diy lectured to the freshmen. Jess asked him to teach them a little bit more about graphics and games in Java. I sat in because, knowing how difficult the subject matter was going to be, I wanted to watch the carnage. More importantly, I wanted to see David in his element.
When David lectures, he is computer science's answer to Robin Williams: part mad-man, part force of nature, part stand up comic, part energizer bunny. His content is rich and his punch lines just keep on coming. He rivets the students with questions like, "Who among you have played Diablo III?" then assaults them with, "Those of you who are afraid of code, look away now!" and "Switch (variable), case (1) Do crap here! Break! Case (2) Do other crap here!" Even when the students try to fight back, they're no match: David asks, "How did I do this?" Someone replies, "Magic!" David parries, "Aside from that!"
At the end of the lecture, the freshmen clapped. And so did I.
