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Full-Text Articles in Computer Sciences
Three Views On Motivation And Programming, Amber Settle, Arto Vihavainen, Juha Sorva
Three Views On Motivation And Programming, Amber Settle, Arto Vihavainen, Juha Sorva
Amber Settle
Teaching programming is one of the most widely studied areas in computing education. Part of the reason for this may be the difficulty students experience when learning programming which makes it a challenging endeavor for instructors. There is a relationship between student motivation and success in learning to program [1], and motivation is also important in the bigger picture for computing educators, having inspired two ITiCSE working groups [2]. What is perhaps surprising is that motivation does not play an equal role in the various subfields of programming education.
In this panel we discuss three areas of programming education, emphasizing …
Testing First: Emphasizing Testing In Early Programming Courses, Will Marrero, Amber Settle
Testing First: Emphasizing Testing In Early Programming Courses, Will Marrero, Amber Settle
Amber Settle
The complexity of languages like Java and C++ can make introductory programming classes in these languages extremely challenging for many students. Part of the complexity comes from the large number of concepts and language features that students are expected to learn while having little time for adequate practice or examples. A second source of difficulty is the emphasis that object-oriented programming places on abstraction. We believe that by placing a larger emphasis on testing in programming assignments in these introductory courses, students have an opportunity for extra practice with the language, and this affords them a gentler transition into the …