A theory of instruction for introductory programming skills

ABSTRACT

Background and Context: Current introductory instruction fails to identify, structure, and sequence the many skills involved in programming.

Objective: We proposed a theory which identifies four distinct skills that novices learn incrementally. These skills are tracing, writing syntax, comprehending templates (reusable abstractions of programming knowledge), and writing code with templates. We theorized that explicit instruction of these skills decreases cognitive demand.

Method: We conducted an exploratory mixed-methods study and compared students’ exercise completion rates, error rates, ability to explain code, and engagement when learning to program. We compared material that reflects this theory to more traditional material that does not distinguish between skills.

Findings: Teaching skills incrementally resulted in improved completion rate on practice exercises, and decreased error rate and improved understanding of the post-test.

Implications: By structuring programming skills such that they can be taught explicitly and incrementally, we can inform instructional design and improve future research on understanding how novice programmers develop understanding.     

大学生创业自我效能感的中介作用探究

创业自我效能感作为创业者对于自己是否能够完成创业任务的信念,在大学生创业活动中起着十分关键的作用.以同济大学、复旦大学、上海大学等上海地区的1086位大学生为样本,通过SPSS及AMOS软件,构建大学生创业能力影响因素及中介效应的结构方程模型.研究结果表明:创业环境、创业教育、创业特质以及创业自我效能感等因素对提升大学生的创业能力均具有正向显著影响;创业自我效能感分别在创业环境、创业教育、创业特质与创业能力之间起部分中介作用.研究结论可以为大学生创业能力的提升、高校开展创业类课程、政府出台相关创业政策提供一定的指导和借鉴.     

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The purpose of this study was to explore Chinese university professors’ decisions about ethical issues in classroom assessment. A survey with fifteen scenarios that describe professors’ thoughts about ethics in assessment practices was administrated to 555 professors from 143 colleges and universities in 29 provinces in China. The results of the quantitative analysis indicated that professors’ interest in professional development related to classroom assessment, and their dispositions were significantly associated with their agreement with experts in the field of classroom assessment. Professors’ gender, highest degree, professional rank, and years of teaching experience did not significantly predict their agreement. The qualitative analysis revealed that maintaining fair assessment vs being caring to students and asserting professors’ rights vs abiding by university policy were the crucial aspects for professors to consider in classroom assessment. Findings of the study could help educators identify ethical issues in assessment, develop guidelines to ensure fair assessment, and incorporate differentiated strategies in professional development workshops in higher education.

     

死亡,也是一种美丽--解读蒋韵长篇小说《栎树的囚徒》

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