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As preliminary exams came to a close, let’s explore how students prepared for this critical period. Many took part in a series of online review sessions hosted by Code Geeks (CG) and the League of Outstanding Programmers (LOOP). Spanning multiple dates, these sessions covered various programming subjects, providing in-depth insights and thorough explanations. Commendable to Code Geeks and LOOP for their initiative, which played a vital role in equipping students with the knowledge and confidence needed to tackle their exams.

The dedication of Code Geeks and LOOP to supporting students in their coding journey is evident in their commitment to organizing these review sessions. They are the organizations that voluntarily offer these sessions FOR FREE, as well as ensuring that they are accessible to all students. CG has conducted review sessions on Java (July 6) and INTROWEB (July 25). LOOP has also been active, hosting sessions on DSAL (July 26), OOP (July 27), and LOGPROG (July 27).  These sessions provide students with a valuable opportunity to revisit and reinforce key concepts, ensuring they are well-prepared for their preliminary week.

And surely, behind these great events are even greater organizers, passionate of helping others. LOOP’s Academic Head, Allein Dane Maninang, explained that the inspiration behind organizing the review sessions stems from their desire to help those who are struggling with programming subjects and to share valuable knowledge, which is an opportunity that is not given to many. He emphasized that these events are the core of LOOP’s mission of supporting students in understanding their programming courses. In terms of preparation, Allein detailed that staff were assigned specific courses, tasked with creating their own materials, and briefed on conducting the sessions. He expressed his and his staff’s gratification, stating, “It is very rewarding for me and my staff to know that the review session that we conduct helped them understand the course and ace their exam.”

Looking forward, LOOP plans to continue these sessions for 6LOGPROG, 6DSAL, and 6OOP, as they are a great help for students. Additionally, LOOP has plans to organize future events that members can look forward to, including extra webinars, seminars, and workshops, all exclusively for LOOP members.

CG Vice President, Ragie Almachar, shared that the main inspiration and motivation for organizing the review sessions was to provide additional assistance to SOC students in their academics. He emphasized that these sessions align with their goal of helping and further developing SOC students in their coding journey. For the preparations, he explained that they carefully planned each session to address the most challenging topics for students, ensuring knowledgeable presenters were selected. Ragie mentioned that helping fellow students through these sessions is rewarding because they understand the struggles and challenges students face, stating, “Having a way to help our fellow students indeed feels rewarding not only to ourselves but to the whole organization.”  

Looking ahead, CG plans to continue organizing these review sessions for every exam period, and they also plan to offer workshops, seminars/webinars, tutorials, talks/assemblies on various topics, and competitions where students can showcase their skills.

Attendees of the review sessions also expressed their thoughts. Many were motivated by the desire to better understand subjects they find challenging such as LOGPROG, OOP, and DSAL, and pass their exams. Showering the organizers with praise, they appreciated the clarity and thoroughness of the instruction, which helped them grasp difficult concepts and recall key lessons. One attendee noted, “My overall experience was great, I understood some of the points they taught me, and it has been a huge help especially for someone who doesn’t understand the terms of Java.” 

While some attendees found the pace a bit fast at times, the sessions were generally described as fun, informative, and highly beneficial. Attendees unanimously recommended these review sessions to fellow students, with one stating, “For every other student that finds Java or other coding languages challenging, I highly recommend you guys to attend every review session they give, because it will surely help you out,” and another adding, “Yes, I recommend people to join these sessions. They could help us all learn new tactics or recall the lessons that we have tackled.” Their enthusiastic recommendations reflect the significant value these sessions provided.

Overall, the satisfaction with the review sessions was evident from the positive feedback shared by the participants. The efforts of CG and LOOP have clearly made a significant impact, providing much-needed support to students in their academic journeys. They have not only helped students excel in their exams but have also built a supportive community where knowledge is shared freely. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to CG and LOOP for their unwavering dedication and look forward to more successful initiatives in the future.

News by: Adrian Curley