Block-based visual programming tools are widely used in elementary education. Nonetheless, these tools alone may not ensure the spontaneous and efficient acquisition of concepts and skills in computational thinking (CT). Using mind mapping as a form of scaffolding to facilitate the visualization of abstract thinking processes may enhance the…

Context: Introducing Computer Science (CS) into formal education can be challenging, notably when considering the numerous stakeholders involved which include the students, teachers, schools, and policy makers. We believe these perspectives should be considered conjointly, which is possible within Research Practice Partnerships (RPPs). RPPs look…

Aim/Purpose: This study was aimed at enhancing students' learning of software engineering methods. A collaboration between the Computer Science, Business Management, and Product Design programs was formed to work on actual projects with real clients. This interdisciplinary form of collaboration simulates the realities of a diverse Software…

This study identified computer objectives based on recommendations of the authoritative accounting bodies, determined whether the typical introductory computer course has these same objectives, and examined the influence of the academic department responsible for teaching the course. Relationships between department and course objectives,…

Discusses a study which focused on students' actual programming behavior. Descriptive data revealed that the high school students spent little time in planning their programs or writing their code. Their debugging behavior was characterized as a trial and error strategy. (ML)

A survey of over 700 Ontario secondary schools was conducted in 1987 and again in 1989 to determine the current status of computer programing pedagogy. Presents an overview of the computer education curriculum for grades 10-12 and results related to hardware utilization, choice of programing languages, availability of teacher and student…

Seven graduate students in a seminar on classroom computing received instruction in LOGO programming. Programming protocols were collected periodically and examined for errors and misconceptions; in-depth interviews were conducted in order to understand specific misconceptions better. As novice students transit from instruction to experience in…

Further validated the Konvalina, Stephens, Wileman (KSW) Computer Science Placement Test by administering it to 152 Philippine students. A practical procedure for placing students using the results of the KSW test is also included. This procedure has been successfully applied at the University of Nebraska (Omaha) for over two years. (JN)

Surveyed the entire middle school population of a rural-suburban school district to determine the general attitudes of students toward computers. Findings are reported for differences in general attitudes toward computers between boys and girls, seventh and eighth-graders, and those who had computers and those who did not. (JN)

Responses to the problems of secondary school education must be predicated on reliable information on student participation in mathematics, science, computer science, vocational education, and general education. This analysis summarized 1981-1982 High School and Beyond student transcript data to identify course-taking patterns relative to each of…

Presents findings from a comparison of traditional classroom lecture on lecture-replacement stand-alone PLATO-based delivery made to learn Fortran. Two semesters were examined separately, semester one (n=54) and semester two (n=36), using a two-tailed t-test at .01 level of significance. No difference was found. (JM)

Examined effects of beginning computer programing instruction, sex, and home computers on the attitudes of fifth-grade students (N=49). Results of this pilot study showed higher attitudes following instruction and no differences between the sexes or between those who had computers and those who did not. (JN)

Describes a case study approach to teaching database design principles to undergraduate students that is based on a library database. Topics discussed include database management systems, relational models, entity relationship models, many-to-many relationships, normalization, and producing a working database. (three references) (LRW)

Examines factors related to computer anxiety measured by the Computer Anxiety Index (CAIN). Achievement in two programing courses was inversely related to computer anxiety. Students who had a home computer and had computer experience before high school had lower computer anxiety than those who had not. Lists 14 references. (YP)

Described is the design and evaluation of a learning unit which includes the basics of computerized feedback control. Included are sample topics, descriptions of the achievement measures, and conclusions of the study. (CW)