Using Logo to work through a maze is described. Suggested programs to help students learn to debug programs are also included, along with the story of the original "computer bug." (MNS)

Three classes of conceptual bugs presenting obstacles to all novice programmers and not related to any specific program--parallelism, intentionality, and egocentrism--are identified and exemplified through student errors. It is suggested these bugs are rooted in students' intuitive feeling that programming languages, like humans, have intelligent,…

Unsuccessful programing attempts by university business students in introductory COBOL classes were analyzed to determine most frequently occurring syntactical errors. Results indicate the most common errors were use of undeclared data in Procedure Division, missing periods, misspelled reserved words, missing hyphens, and use of wrong margin area.…

Certain misunderstandings in science, mathematics, and computer programing reflect analogous underlying difficulties. These misunderstandings are examined through four knowledge levels: (1) content; (2) problem-solving; (3) epistemic; and (4) inquiry. Analysis of several examples shows that misunderstandings have causes at multiple levels, and…

Describes a microcomputer-based system for diagnosing children's multiplication errors which incorporates the knowledge base of all known systematic multiplication errors, and utilizes a modular approach to cope with the program's complexity. Each module's function, how the programs interact, and the design of pupil-machine interaction are…

The need for traps, a program routine which checks the validity of the user's response to the computer's request for input, in Computer Assisted Learning Packages, is discussed. Several example traps are described. (MK)

Five categories of answer-processing for computerized drill programs in foreign languages are described: nonevaluation, right-wrong evaluation, pattern markup, error anticipation, and parsing. Each strategy is explained in terms of its operation, advantages and disadvantages, ease of use for authoring courseware, and capability to support…

An overall schema of interpretation for programming instructors is given, so that the misconceptions students develop in programming can be determined more readily. Types of language-independent and -dependent bugs, how they can be identified, and how to help students overcome them are addressed. (MNS)

Discusses self-regulation, learning to learn, and adaptive problem solving, and describes study of third, fifth, and eighth graders. The study investigated whether providing a model of self-regulating skills via teaching a computer to solve problems would increase the number tasks completed, and decrease the error and trial rate. (11 references)…

Describes mathematical problems which occur when using the computer as a calculator. Considers errors in BASIC calculation and the order of mathematical operations. Identifies errors in spreadsheet and calculator programs. Comments on sorting programs and provides a source for Mathemagical Black Holes. (MVL)

High school students' misunderstandings of the conceptual machine of the BASIC programming language were examined using a screening test and structured interviews to determine their understanding of fundamental concepts such as variables, assignments, loops, flow and control, and tracing and debugging. (MBR)