**Course Title:** Essential Soft Skills for Programmers **Section Title:** Problem Solving and Critical Thinking **Topic:** Solve a programming challenge as a group, discussing different approaches.(Lab topic) **Introduction:** In this lab topic, we will apply the concepts learned in the previous lessons to real-world problem-solving. Students will work in groups to solve a programming challenge, exploring different approaches and explaining their thought process. This hands-on exercise is designed to reinforce critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. **Objective:** * Apply problem-solving techniques to a programming challenge * Collaborate with team members to find a solution * Communicate different approaches and thought processes * Analyze and evaluate solutions for effectiveness **Challenge Scenario:** Here is a programming challenge for your group to work on: **Challenge:** Write a program that determines the most frequent word in a given text. The program should: 1. Read the text from a file 2. Split the text into individual words 3. Count the occurrence of each word 4. Print the most frequent word and its count **Constraints:** * Use a programming language of your choice (e.g., Python, Java, C++) * Assume the text file is in the same directory as the program * Do not use any external libraries or modules that do not come with the standard installation of your chosen programming language **Instructions:** 1. **Form groups**: Divide into groups of 3-4 students. 2. **Review the challenge**: Read and understand the challenge scenario. 3. **Brainstorm approaches**: Each group member should think about how they would approach the problem and write down their ideas. Consider different algorithms, data structures, and programming languages. 4. **Share and discuss approaches**: Share your ideas with the group and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. This is a crucial step in developing your critical thinking and communication skills. 5. **Select an approach**: Choose one approach to implement as a group. 6. **Implement the solution**: Work together to write the code and test it. 7. **Present your solution**: Each group should present their solution, explaining their approach, thought process, and lessons learned. **Tips and Considerations:** * Make use of collaboration tools like GitHub, Slack, or Trello to facilitate communication and version control. * Use active listening skills to understand and respect each other's opinions and ideas. * Be open to different approaches and be willing to adjust your own approach if necessary. * When presenting your solution, focus on the thought process and the steps you took to arrive at the solution. **Deliverables:** * A working program that solves the challenge * A brief presentation explaining your approach and thought process * A written reflection (individual or group) on what you learned from the exercise, including any challenges or successes. **Resources:** * GitHub: [https://github.com/](https://github.com/) (for version control and collaboration) * Python documentation: [https://docs.python.org/3/](https://docs.python.org/3/) (for Python enthusiasts) * Java documentation: [https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/) (for Java enthusiasts) **Conclusion:** By working through this lab topic, you will have applied critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills to a real-world programming challenge. Remember to reflect on your experiences and what you can improve on for future team-based projects. **We would love to hear from you:** Please provide any feedback, suggestions, or questions about the course materials in the comments below. This is not a required discussion board posting.