A process model to explain bugs produced by novices early in a programming course are presented. (The term "bug" refers to an error in a person's behavior, particularly an error in a computer program they have written.) The model is motivated by interviews of novice programmers solving simple programming problems. The key idea is that…

The effect of a meaningful instructional context and practice variety on rule retention was investigated. One hundred high school students participated. The design was a 2 by 3 completely randomized factorial design. The instructional context factor had two fixed levels: context and rule. The practice variety factor had three fixed levels: broad-,…

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,…

Describes a preliminary investigation in which students were taught BASIC programing using deliberately bugged programs, with program descriptions and photographs of screen as it should look if programs were running correctly. Includes educational issues involved, constraints of the investigation, sample programs, subjective/statistical analyses,…

This study concerned conceptual difficulties of college students learning programming and ways the teacher can simplify the process. An analysis of general strategies used in solving problems involving loops is given, with four types of hierarchical strategy categorized. Students had difficulty transforming their algebraic descriptions into…

This review of ideas from cognitive and educational psychology that are related to the problem of how to teach non-programmers to use computers explores two techniques. The first one discussed is the effects of concrete models on people's understanding and learning of new technical information such as computer programming. Research results provide…

Two reports have been issued related to a survey of school uses of microcomputers. Summarizes several major findings, indicating that they are contrary to what many people think is happening in schools. Source for additional information and newsletter from the project conducting the survey is included. (JN)

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…

A research study investigated the effects on student performance and attitude of three different strategies for selecting lessons in a course in computer programing presented by computer. Sixty college students were randomly assigned to the strategies of student selection of lessons, program selection in the light of the student's past…

Assessed effectiveness of classroom team activities in eliciting more favorable attitudinal outcomes with a sample of 215 undergraduate business administration majors enrolled in an introductory COBOL programing course. The findings provide support for incorporating team activities into the programing learning process to develop positive…

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)

An elective unit was developed for a course (Math 20) which would teach students to program solutions to typical exercises. Development of the unit took place in a large senior high school in Alberta. The elective is 15 hours long, with the first five hours devoted to learning programming fundamentals and the final ten hours to programming…

This paper reports the evaluation of instructional provisions designed to foster higher cognitive skill in a computer programming course. This intervention explicitly encourages novice programmers to engage in the problem-solving skill of planning. (Author)

Teaching of computer programming in elementary and secondary schools has become a very popular activity. The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the empirical research on the benefits of learning computer programming on students' cognition abilities. The paper focuses on the question: Do the skills of computer programming transfer to…

The LOGO activities of a group of 16 sixth-grade students, representing a full spectrum of ability, are documented with a view of developing ways of capturing the learning possibilities of such an environment. The first group of eight subjects completed 25 closely observed hours, extending over seven weeks, in a LOGO classroom situated in a…