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Fostering Active Learning in Introductory Programming Courses by Utilizing Multiple Programming Tools and Enrichment Activities

Published: 13 February 2023 Publication History

Abstract

Teaching introductory computer programming for first-year college students has been challenging. The challenges stem from the fact that teachers often struggle to find the best pedagogical strategies that address the cognitive needs and learning styles of a diverse group of learners. This paper discusses the results of a systematic study we have conducted to assess the effectiveness of improving students’ learning through active engagement, participation, and commitment. In particular, the study combines the utilization of multiple programming tools and learning aids along with carefully designed collaborative problem-solving activities and lab-based projects. The results of the study show evidence that such a combination promotes active learning and sharpens students’ problem-solving skills.

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ICETC '22: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Education Technology and Computers
October 2022
628 pages
ISBN:9781450397766
DOI:10.1145/3572549
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part 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 components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 13 February 2023

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  1. Active learning
  2. Problem-based learning
  3. Programing Tools

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