Strengthening the learning of programming in the first year through the use of Lego robots

Abstract

Teaching computer programming is a complex task. In computer science programs students usually have big difficulties dealing with programming competence. In regional universities in Chile, this problem tends to increase, because the gaps students have before enroll computer science programs. In order to address this problem, a course in the first year of the curriculum in Computer Science in Temuco Catholic University, has been incorporated. This course supports teaching of computer programming using Lego NXT robots and the NXC language. The methodology additionally supports the generic skills of creativity and innovation, teamwork and written communication. The results obtained are satisfactory, since students can experiment into real and recreational elements, programming bases, obtaining interesting and motivating products early. In addition, students achieve an early approach to advanced concepts such as concurrent programming, threads, multitasking, among others.