Robotics education has received widespread attention in K-12 education. Studies have pointed out that in robotics courses, learners face challenges in learning abstract content, such as constructing a robot with a goo...
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Despite the seemingly good prospects in the Information Technology (IT) industry, the expected number of students who are interested in the relevant subjects has been limited. While numerous studies have explored the ...
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Despite the seemingly good prospects in the Information Technology (IT) industry, the expected number of students who are interested in the relevant subjects has been limited. While numerous studies have explored the influence of various variables on programming course participation and performance at a personal level, there have been few studies conducted at a policy level. This study examined the impact of the medium of instruction (MOI) on student learning of computer programming in Hong Kong. It also examined the effects of gender and prior academic ability on programming performance. No gender differences in programming performance were found in the sample after prior academic ability was controlled. Prior academic ability affected performance differentially. Chinese-medium instructed students tended to outperform their English-medium instructed counterparts and middle and low-ability students in English-medium schools were notably at-risk. In view of these results, we argue that the MOI issue is further complicated by student ability. This provides a new understanding of the impact of the MOI on student learning. At a policy level, the results offer empirical evidence for policy-makers to rethink the current MOI policy. At a school level, we propose some metacognitive and cognitive strategies to address the needs of those at-risk learners. Finally, we intend to raise a series of questions that warrant further discussion and investigation.
This paper presents issues of computer programming and results of controlled experiment conducted to evaluate and understand the significance of pair programming in the teaching of programming. It involved 42 second y...
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ISBN:
(纸本)9781509055104
This paper presents issues of computer programming and results of controlled experiment conducted to evaluate and understand the significance of pair programming in the teaching of programming. It involved 42 second year students attending object-oriented programming in Java, CISM 214 module as an elective at our institution. The experiment assessed the time for task completion, code correctness and quality as well as students' motivation. The results obtained were analyzed as well as hypothesis formulated and tested. The paired samples T-tests showed a statistically reliable difference between the mean number of time taken and the correctness/quality of programming task in individual and pair programming carried out by the students at a significant level of alpha=0.05 at 95% confidence interval. The results shows that pair programming is more effective in the teaching of programming than traditional approach and confirms several reports on pair programming in the literature. Thus, it would be advantageous to adopt pair programming as a technique for teaching computer programming for beginners.
This Innovative Practice Work in Progress describes initial efforts in developing computer programming classes for students with high-functioning autism. From the students' perspective, technical skills appear to ...
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ISBN:
(纸本)9781538611746
This Innovative Practice Work in Progress describes initial efforts in developing computer programming classes for students with high-functioning autism. From the students' perspective, technical skills appear to be the focus in these classes, yet we create opportunities for students to work on social skills.
We built detectors capable of automatically recognizing affective states of novice computer programmers from student-annotated videos of their faces recorded during an introductory programming tutoring session. We use...
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ISBN:
(纸本)9783319072210;9783319072203
We built detectors capable of automatically recognizing affective states of novice computer programmers from student-annotated videos of their faces recorded during an introductory programming tutoring session. We used the computer Expression Recognition Toolbox (CERT) to track facial features based on the Facial Action Coding System, and machine learning techniques to build classification models. Confusion/Uncertainty and Frustration were distinguished from all other affective states in a student-independent fashion at levels above chance (Cohen's kappa = .22 and.23, respectively), but detection accuracies for Boredom, Flow/Engagement, and Neutral were lower (kappas = .04, .11, and .07). We discuss the differences between detection of spontaneous versus fixed (polled) judgments as well as the features used in the models.
Motivation is essential for successful engagement in learning. This factor is especially important in courses that are considered difficult and require high cognitive engagement. The focus of this work is computer pro...
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ISBN:
(纸本)9781538615232
Motivation is essential for successful engagement in learning. This factor is especially important in courses that are considered difficult and require high cognitive engagement. The focus of this work is computer programming education among engineering students. In previous studies, motivation to learn appeared to be a common issue in computer programming courses. In regards to motivation issues, the assessments in the course is considered as important as the other aspects of learning environment. This work presents a qualitative study on undergraduate engineering students' motivation towards learning programming in the perspective of improving the assessment methods. The assessment-centred aspect from How People Learn framework and three motivational components: expectancy, value and affective are used as the theoretical lens of this study. The methods used in this study are observations and interviews while the data was analyzed using thematic analysis method. The findings suggest that the students struggled with their perceived value towards computer programming and were lack of excitement during learning. Hence, several suggestions were mapped from the findings as meaningful teaching guide for the instructors in the future.
As scientific and technological innovation has become a key component of economic growth, policies geared towards reinforcing education in these areas have become a priority. Due the exponential growth of technologies...
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As scientific and technological innovation has become a key component of economic growth, policies geared towards reinforcing education in these areas have become a priority. Due the exponential growth of technologies based on or relaying on software, one of the key skills identified as a basic literacy for the future is computer programming. In consequence several countries are taking steps to introduce coding in education, however, the speed at which this skill is becoming essential demands its prompt introduction at all levels. While the steps being taken in primary and secondary education are widely discussed, the extent to which computer programming has been introduced in higher education is less known; are universities addressing this demand, and if so how? Taking design education as a case study, we approach these questions by asking faculty from design schools in different countries whether their respective institutions offer any computer programming courses and in which modality. After laying down the theoretical framework for the discussion, we use a mix of qualitative interviews and questionnaires to gather information and finally discuss how the steps being taken in primary and secondary education could serve as a reference in higher education. We close by reflecting upon the implications of the information obtained to develop a work force capable of not just using technology, but creating it.
This paper describes the end-users programming system that generates computer programs through interaction using linguistic expressions with users who have little knowledge of computer programming. The present system ...
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ISBN:
(纸本)3540288945
This paper describes the end-users programming system that generates computer programs through interaction using linguistic expressions with users who have little knowledge of computer programming. The present system employs the idea of computer programming by paraphrasing, which is used as the useful method of human's everyday communication. The system also uses the case-based reasoning method for paraphrasing. Therefore users can add the meanings of linguistic expressions that the system does not have. Two subject experiments are carried out in order to confirm the usefulness of the present system. The one task is simple text editing and the other task is more complex one. Ten subjects in all perform the experiments and the experimental results are discussed in this paper.
Learners' success in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the factors influencing it have previously been examined mainly upon completion of the course. This approach does not reveal whether learners are fulfil...
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Learners' success in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the factors influencing it have previously been examined mainly upon completion of the course. This approach does not reveal whether learners are fulfilling their initial intentions regarding MOOCs and which factors affect it and thus the individual success of the learners. This quantitative study using decision tree analysis with the CHAID growing method was conducted. The dependent variable was learners' success, and it was measured as a difference between learners' intentions and their actual course performance. Aspects of learners' background, engagement and motivations were used as independent variables to determine which of these affect learners' success in computer programming MOOC. Data was collected from learning platform and with voluntary questionnaire. The results showed that over two-thirds of the learners in this study were successful. Success was influenced by learners' prior education, use of the referred external materials, prior experience with programming and online courses, and only one motivational factor - Usefulness related to certification. Prior education had the strongest impact. The results indicate that learners' success is affected by previous learning experiences. It is suggested to complement learning materials with links to external materials and develop a range of support mechanisms for learners to choose from. This study expands previous research on learners' success, basing the measurement of success on learners' intentions. This knowledge can be useful for MOOC organisers who can re-evaluate the resources used on the courses.
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