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Dynamically Adaptive Parsons Problems

Published: 25 August 2016 Publication History

Abstract

Parsons problems are code segments that must be placed in the correct order with the correct indention. Research on Parsons problems suggests that they might be a more effective and efficient learning approach than writing equivalent code, especially for time-strapped secondary teachers. I am exploring this hypothesis with empirical experiments, observations, and log file analyses. Our research team also plans to modify the open-source js-parsons software to allow Parsons problems to be dynamically adaptive, which means that the difficulty of the problem will change based on the user's past performance. I plan to compare dynamically adaptive Parsons problems to the current non-adaptive Parsons problems to determine which learners prefer and to see if solving dynamically adaptive Parsons problems leads to more efficient and effective learning than solving non-adaptive Parsons problems.

References

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Bennedsen, J. and M. E. Caspersen (2007). "Failure rates in introductory programming." SIGCSE Bull. 39(2): 32--36.
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Denny, P., et al. (2008). Evaluating a New Exam Question: Parsons Problems. International Computing Education Research Conference. Sydney, Australia, ACM.
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Helminen, J., et al. (2012). How Do Students Solve Parsons Programming Problems? - An Analysis of Ineraction Traces. International Computing Education Research Conference. Aukland, New Zealand, ACM: 119--126.
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McCracken, M., et al. (2001). "A multi-national, multi-institutional study of assessment of programming skills of first-year CS students." SIGCSE Bull. 33(4): 125--180.
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Parsons, D. and P. Haden (2006). Parson's programming puzzles: a fun and effective learning tool for first programming courses. Proceedings of the 8th Australasian Conference on Computing Education - Volume 52. Hobart, Australia, Australian Computer Society, Inc.: 157--163.
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Soloway, E., et al. (1994). "Learner-Centered Design: The Challenge For HCI In The 21st Century. Interactions 1(2) 36--48

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    ICER '16: Proceedings of the 2016 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research
    August 2016
    310 pages
    ISBN:9781450344494
    DOI:10.1145/2960310
    Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the Owner/Author.

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    Published: 25 August 2016

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    Author Tags

    1. adaptive learning
    2. ebook
    3. learning programming
    4. online learning
    5. parsons problems

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    ICER '16: International Computing Education Research Conference
    September 8 - 12, 2016
    VIC, Melbourne, Australia

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    ICER '16 Paper Acceptance Rate 26 of 102 submissions, 25%;
    Overall Acceptance Rate 189 of 803 submissions, 24%

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