Digital Commons Network^™

Hearing Iterative And Recursive Behavior: Sonification Improves Student Understanding, Joel C. Adams, Hayworth Anderson

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Abstract topics such as recursion are challenging for many computer science students to understand. In this experience report, we explore function sonification-the addition of sound to a function to communicate information about the function's behavior in real-time as it runs-as a pedagogical approach for improving students' understanding of recursion. We present several example iterative and recursive function sonifications, plus spectrograms that illustrate their different sonic behaviors. We also present experimental evidence that using these sonifications significantly improved the understanding of recursion for students who used them, compared to students who used silent (i.e., traditional) versions of the same functions. Based …

The Flipped-Classroom Instructional Procedure Development And Its Implementation Effectiveness In Improving Procedural Knowledge Learning Outcomes At Vocational High Schools, Admaja Dwi Herlambang, Olivia Dyah Fransisca, Tri Afirianto

Elinvo (Electronics, Informatics, and Vocational Education)

The students' number limitation in a classroom and the compression of face-to-face time challenge teachers to present practical learning scenarios to achieve learning objectives. This study aims to develop student learning procedures with the flipped classroom (FC) instructional model and determine its use in improving student learning outcomes. The research was conducted at a public information technology vocational high school in Malang, East Java Province, Indonesia. The FC instructional procedure development approach is based on the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) phase. The FC instructional procedure was developed in conjunction with a constructivist instructional strategy, consisting of five …

Vr Computing Lab: An Immersive Classroom For Computing Learning, Shawn Pang, Kyong Jin Shim, Yi Meng Lau, Swapna Gottipati

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) is gaining popularity amongst educators and learners. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a VR session is worth a trillion words. VR technology completely immerses users with an experience that transports them into a simulated world. Universities across the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries have already started using VR for higher education in areas such as medicine, business, architecture, vocational training, social work, virtual field trips, virtual campuses, helping students with special needs, and many more. In this paper, we propose a novel VR platform learning framework which maps elements …

Computational Thinking And Coding For Young Children: A Hybrid Approach To Link Unplugged And Plugged Activities, Daisuke Akiba

Publications and Research

In our increasingly technology-dependent society, the importance of promoting digital literacy (e.g., computational thinking, coding, and programming) has become a critical focus in the field of childhood education. While young children these days are routinely and extensively exposed to digital devices and tools, the efficacy of the methods for fostering digital skills in the early childhood classroom has not always been closely considered. This is particularly true in settings where early childhood educators are not digital experts. Currently, most of the efforts in standard early childhood settings, taught by teachers who are not digital experts, appear to revolve around “unplugged” …

Designing And Evaluating Accessible E-Learning For Students With Visual Impairments In K-12 Computing Education, Earl W. Huff Jr

All Dissertations

This dissertation explores the pathways for making K-12 computing education more accessible for blind or visually impaired (BVI) learners. As computer science (CS) expands into K-12 education, more concerted efforts are required to ensure all students have equitable access to opportunities to pursue a career in computing. To determine their viability with BVI learners, I conducted three studies to assess current accessibility in CS curricula, materials, and learning environments. Study one was interviews with visually impaired developers; study two was interviews with K-12 teachers of visually impaired students; study three was a remote observation within a computer science course. My …

Discovering Ways To Increase Inclusivity For Dyslexic Students In Computing Education, Felicia Hellems, Sajal Bhatia

School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Publications

The years accompanying entrance into the university system are often characterized by a period of great transformation. These years can also be wrought with difficulties for many students, difficulties which are often compounded in students with disabilities (SWD). Reports from the U.S. Department of Education show that as recently as 2015--16, 19% of undergraduate students experienced some form of disability1. Additionally, statistics show that SWD tend to have lower post secondary completion rates than their counterparts [3]. A review of pertinent literature has shown that there still exist gaps within the field of computing education (CE) for teaching cybersecurity concepts …

Improving Programming Learners’ Experience Through Interactive Computer Tutor Based Moocs, Ruiqi Shen

Dissertations

With the large demand for technology workers all around the world, more people are learning programming. Studies show that human tutoring is the most effective way to learn for novice programmers. However, problems such as the inaccessibility to physical classes, prohibitive costs, and the lack of educators may limit students' opportunities to learn from these resources. Additionally, because programming is a skill requiring continuous practice and immediate feedback, simply listening to lectures may not be sufficient to learn effectively. This increases the inconvenience of learners who use online learning tools such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

In recent years, …

A Longitudinal Analysis Of Pathways To Computing Careers: Defining Broadening Participation In Computing (Bpc) Success With A Rearview Lens, Mercy Jaiyeola

Theses and Dissertations

Efforts to increase the participation of groups historically underrepresented in computing studies, and in the computing workforce, are well documented. It is a national effort with funding from a variety of sources being allocated to research in broadening participation in computing (BPC). Many of the BPC efforts are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) but as existing literature shows, the growth in representation of traditionally underrepresented minorities and women is not commensurate to the efforts and resources that have been directed toward this aim.

Instead of attempting to tackle the barriers to increasing representation, this dissertation research tackles the …

Effective Assessment Of Workplace Problem-Solving In Higher Education, Maurice Danaher, Kevin Schoepp

All Works

© 2020 Informing Science Institute. Aim/Purpose Within higher education, graduating students who are able to solve ill-structured, complex, open-ended, and collaborative, workplace problems is rec-ognized as paramount. Because of this, there is a need to assess this skill across the curriculum. Background This paper addresses this issue by assessing problem-solving across a computing curriculum using an assessment instrument shown to be reliable and valid. Methodology The method is based upon the implementation of the assessment instrument that uses a scenario-based asynchronous discussion board measuring the ability of student groups to solve workplace problems. The sample are computing stu-dents from the …

Securing The Human: Broadening Diversity In Cybersecurity, Mohammad Azhar, Sajal Bhatia, Greg Gagne, Chadi Kari, Joseph Maguire, Xenia Montrouidou, Liviana Tudor, David Vosen, Timothy T. Yuen

School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Publications

Recent global demand for cybersecurity professionals is promising, with the U.S. job growth rate at 28%, three times the national average [1]. Lacking qualified applicants, many organizations struggle to fill open positions [2]. In a global survey, 2,300 security managers reported that 59% of their security positions were unfilled, although 82% anticipated cyberattacks to their systems [3]. At the same time, the cybersecurity field is broadening, not only in technical concepts but also in human factors, business processes, and international law. The field has not become culturally diversified, however. Professionals hired in 2018 included only 24.9% women, 12.3% African Americans, …

Effective Evaluation Of The Non-Technical Skills In The Computing Discipline, Maurice Danaher, Kevin Schoepp, Ashley Ater Kranov

All Works

© 2019, Journal of Information Technology Eucation Research. Aim/Purpose Assessing non-technical skills is very difficult and current approaches typically assess the skills separately. There is a need for better quality assessment of these skills at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Background A method has been developed for the computing discipline that assesses all six non-technical skills prescribed by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), the accreditation board for engineering and technology. It has been shown to be a valid and reliable method for undergraduate students Methodology The method is based upon performance-based assessment where a team of students discuss and …

Informing Students About Academic Integrity In Programming., Simple Simon, Judy Sheard, Michael Morgan, Andrew Petersen, Amber Settle, Jane Sinclair

Amber Settle

Employing Subgoals In Computer Programming Education, Lauren Margulieux, Richard Catrambone, Mark Guzdial

Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The rapid integration of technology into our professional and personal lives has left many education systems ill-equipped to deal with the influx of people seeking computing education. To improve computing education, we are applying techniques that have been developed for other procedural fields. The present study applied such a technique, subgoal labeled worked examples, to explore whether it would improve programming instruction. The first two experiments, conducted in a laboratory, suggest that the intervention improves undergraduate learners’ problem solving performance and affects how learners approach problem solving. A third experiment demonstrates that the intervention has similar, and perhaps stronger, effects …

Using Cognitive Load Theory To Select An Environment For Teaching Mobile Apps Development, Raina Mason, Graham Cooper, Simon, Barry Wilks

Raina Mason

After considering a number of environments for the development of apps for mobile devices, we have evaluated five in terms of their suitability for students early in their programming study. For some of the evaluation we devised an evaluation scheme based on the principles of cognitive load theory to assess the relative ease or difficulty of learning and using each environment. After briefly presenting the scheme, we discuss our results, including our findings about which mobile apps development environments appear to show most promise for early-level programming students.

The Evolution Of Successful Service-Learning Courses In The Computing Curriculum: From Infancy To Innovation, Jean F. Coppola Phd, Susan Feather-Gannon, Catharina Daniels, Nancy Lynch Hale, Pauline Mosley

Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship

The purpose of this paper is to relate the evolution of successful service-learning courses in a school of computer science and information systems spanning over a 20-year period. The authors share their experiences in developing technology-based service-learning courses for both majors and non-majors. Most recently, these courses have enabled undergraduate first-year students to be exposed to exciting technologies, such as robotics and mobile app development. The challenges, benefits, and lessons learned are discussed.