<p>I want to pick up some programming but I'm already registered at max courseload... there is a programming lecture that meets at a time that's convenient for me and I am thinking of just showing up and sitting in the back to listen. The class is fairly big, around 80 students so I don't think anyone will notice. Is doing this okay?</p>
<p>If you just want to learn some basic programming, the best place to do it isn’t necessarily in a class. Choose a language (say C++) pick up a basic book and work through some problems. Google project Euler, it has plenty of programming problems, that start off very very basic and work up to very challenging problems.</p>
<p>Should be okay. I agree with AlwaysInAwe that the crucial part of learning how to program is hands-on programming experience, but a class lectures might help you get started. Before I took intro CS, I picked up a couple of programming books and tried to teach myself, but I never got beyond “hello world”.</p>
<p>MIT Open Courseware?</p>
<p>I’m using MIT Open Courseware to learn C++. And, at most schools, auditing a class is not free.</p>
<p>A lecture in programming wouldn’t be much help. It’s easier to learn when you have a computer with the software up. I’m not sure if your college has TA-run recitations, but my class did, and it was in the computer lab. The actual lecture was useless.</p>