BASIC programing was taught to 95 undergraduates from a manual emphasizing the language's syntax or from a manual that included additional material on the underlying semantics. Both approaches produced equivalent learning of syntactic features of BASIC; however, semantically trained students developed fewer misconceptions and performed better on…

Subjects taught by a model performed better on interpretation of programs and on problems requiring looping, while nonmodel subjects excelled on straightforward generation of programs. The model used was especially helpful for low ability subjects. Practice in interpretation helped nonmodel subjects most and practice in writing simple programs…

Computer-naive university students (N=124) were taught the BASIC programing language by solving and receiving feedback on program comprehension problems stated in BASIC or on corresponding problems stated in English followed by problems stated in BASIC. Results support a sequential method of instruction beginning with use of natural language…

A long-term instructional experiment involving 45 third graders learning LOGO demonstrated that LOGO fulfills some of its early promise when used in carefully crafted educational contexts. There was little evidence of boosting general problem-solving skills as a result of learning programing, but learning geometry appeared enhanced. (SLD)