The Teaching and Learning of Programming: the Use of a Technology Supported Part-complete Solution Method

Learning to program is now a requirement in a diverse range of university courses. However research indicates that many students have great difficulty in learning this subject. This book describes an in-depth study that investigated a technology supported part-complete solution method for the learning of computer programming. One of the aims of the method was to help reduce the cognitive load experienced by students. A COde Restucturing Tool" CORT was developed to support this method and to provide a suitable learning environment. A series of programming problems was also developed for CORT and an experiment was undertaken with students who were studying introductory programming. Results from the study indicated that CORT imposed a low cognitive load on students; provided high levels of cognitive support; strong scaffolding for learning; and students engaged well with the system and generally used a thoughtful and considered strategy to solving programming problems. Findings indicated that the students who used CORT required significantly less time and less help than other students who learnt under conventional methods."