ERIC Number: EJ744586
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 16
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0735-6331
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Programming in Pairs with Alice to Improve Confidence, Enjoyment, and Achievement
Bishop-Clark, Cathy; Courte, Jill; Howard, Elizabeth V.
Journal of Educational Computing Research, v34 n2 p213-228 2006
Students in an introductory computing class participated in a study investigating the impact of using a graphics programming environment (Alice) and pair-programming on confidence, enjoyment and achievement. Sixty-four participants completed a short questionnaire and a content pre-test about computer programming concepts. Students were then assigned to one of two groups: individual or paired. The pairs completed a tutorial on Alice and then completed a short assignment over a period of one week working as a team of two. The individuals completed the same tutorial and assignment but completed it alone. Lastly, all participants took the same questionnaire and content post-test. The results showed that all students experienced increased confidence in programming, that students in pairs enjoyed programming more than students who worked individually, and that all students performed significantly better on the content post-test. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Programming, Group Activities, Participant Satisfaction, Undergraduate Students, Questionnaires, Pretests Posttests, Student Attitudes, Attitude Change, Self Esteem, Computer Science Education, Cooperative Learning
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A