Typing Exercises as Interactive Worked Examples for Deliberate Practice in CS Courses
| Autor: | Adam M. Gaweda, Alay Deliwa, Gabriel Silva de Oliveira, Collin F. Lynch, Nathan Seamon |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Debugging
020204 information systems media_common.quotation_subject 05 social sciences ComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATION 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering Mathematics education 050301 education 02 engineering and technology Psychology 0503 education Code (semiotics) media_common |
| Zdroj: | ACE |
| Popis: | Solving complex Computer Science problems require students to utilize both higher level skills like problem translation, decomposition, and implementation, and lower level skills such as implementing solution patterns and debugging. However, novices often struggle with with these lower level skills, preventing them from moving forward. As a consequence, they risk developing a shallow understanding of code concepts and fail to practice crucial higher-level skills. We assert that if students were given the ability to practice these lower level skills outside of traditional programming exercises, they would be more apt to recognize and resolve them. For this we present our analysis of TYPOS, a platform for low-level skill practice using interactive worked examples as typing exercises. In this work we analyzed self-selected students based on their platform usage and the differences in course performance and behavior between groups. We found that students in a college level CS course that regularly completed typing exercises earned higher course grades and higher learning gains than those who worked irregularly or not at all. Students who actively used the system and completed typing exercises made fewer compilation errors on graded projects. Students did not, however, use the tool while working on their projects but engaged in deliberate practice sessions prior to lecture. We argue this model provides students with the benefits (although with marginal significance) that accrue from worked examples as well as deliberate practice on a key area of struggle for novice students. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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