Computer science for high school faces many challenging issues. One of these is whether the students possess the appropriate cognitive ability for learning the fundamentals of computer science. Online tests were created based on known cognitive factors and fundamental algorithms and were implemented among the second grade students in the…

Abstraction is a key concept in CS, one of the most fundamental ideas underlying CS and its practice. However, teaching this soft concept to novices is a very difficult task, as discussed by many CSE experts. This paper discusses this issue, and suggests a general framework for teaching abstraction in CS to novices, a framework that would fit into…

Agile methodologies have become increasingly popular among software developers as evidenced by industrial participation at related conferences. The popularity of agile practices over traditional techniques partly stems from the fact that these practices provide for more customer involvement and better accommodate rapidly changing requirements,…

Considers three questions regarding computer science courses: (1) Can performance be predicted?; (2) Does a solid mathematical background provide the student with an advantage?; and (3) Is gender a factor in performance or aptitude? Reports a strong math background was related to achievement in a beginning course while gender was not related. (MVL)

The controversy over whether or not machines can think has attracted the attention of philosophers, psychologists, neurologists, computer scientists, and writers of science fiction. Various topics and issues related to this controversy are discussed, including turing machines and the relationship between computer history and mathematical…

This study reports that artistic and social vocational-personality characteristics are associated with greater anxiety and less involvement or success in mathematics and computer courses. A concept of population variability in computer anxiety which is associated with individual differences in vocational personality is supported. (MVL)

Studies whether students' stated preferences for flowcharts or pseudocodes match their actual behaviors. Provides a review of the literature on flowchart utility. Reports that students preferred flowcharts to pseudocodes. Lists an example of both a flowchart and pseudocode. (MVL)

Describes a study to determine if a school district implementing an unfamiliar curricular change completed the same tasks as those using a model developed by Bishop. Reports that the district was more task oriented when confronted with an unfamiliar curricular change than previously reported. (MVL)

Describes a summer graduate level course at Virginia Commonwealth University for mathematics teachers. Notes that the purpose of the course was to allow the teachers access to software usable in their classrooms, and to have teachers program in BASIC and use word processing programs. (MVL)

Investigated was the effect of programing-augmented mathematics classes on the math achievement, problem solving abilities, and attitudes of students with different cognitive styles. Reports BASIC programing groups demonstrated higher mathematics achievement than the LOGO group, and field independent students performed better and had more positive…