{"title":"Automatic evaluation of students' programs","authors":"T. Dadic, V. Glavinic, M. Rosić","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2602683","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2602683","url":null,"abstract":"Our component for tutoring systems automatically verifies small programs avoiding false alarms, and delivers corrections and educational help. It compares students' programs against models calculating semantic program distances.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"569 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116065224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Study on difficulties and misconceptions with modern type systems","authors":"V. Tirronen","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2591726","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2591726","url":null,"abstract":"Functional programming is often presented as an advantageous programming paradigm by its advocates, but many students and teachers consider it to be hard to learn. One particular hurdle in learning functional programming is mastering the modern type systems employed in these languages. In this article, we identify student difficulties with means of multiple choice questions embedded into the on-line materials of an introductory functional programming course. The most prevalent misconceptions were confusing with parametric polymorphism with subtyping, the assigning too much meaning to variables names, and confounding general language patterns with special cases.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"32 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116867051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shitanshu Mishra, Sudeesh Balan, Sridhar V. Iyer, S. Murthy
{"title":"Effect of a 2-week scratch intervention in CS1 on learners with varying prior knowledge","authors":"Shitanshu Mishra, Sudeesh Balan, Sridhar V. Iyer, S. Murthy","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2591733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2591733","url":null,"abstract":"A large CS1 class often needs to provide scaffolding for novices while keeping advanced learners engaged. Scratch has been shown to be suitable to address a diverse set of requirements. In this study, we determine whether a 2-week Scratch intervention in a CS1 course is useful from two perspectives: i) as a scaffold for novices to learn basic programming concepts and transition to C++, and ii) as a tool for advanced learners to remain engaged and do challenging work. We conducted a field study of 332 first-year undergraduate engineering students, two-thirds of whom were novices. We analyzed student performance on exams and Scratch projects. We administered a survey to determine student perceptions on the usefulness of Scratch. Some key findings of our study are: (i) Novices were able to catch-up to advanced learners in Scratch questions of the type 'Predict the output' and 'Debug the program', (ii) Projects by advanced learners reached 80% of the complexity of 'most loved projects' on the Scratch website, and (iii) 69% of students perceived Scratch to be useful for learning programming concepts and transitioning to C++.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"78 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131836946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"ALGO-RYTHMICS: science and art without ethnic borders","authors":"Z. Kátai","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2602684","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2602684","url":null,"abstract":"The \"2013 Best Practices in Education Award\" (organized by Informatics Europe) was devoted to initiatives promoting Informatics Education in Primary and Secondary Schools. We briefly present the AlgoRythmics project (part of one of the winning proposals), consisting of six \"sorting-dances\" and an online e-learning tool which effectively exploits the didactical value of the dance-choreographies.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114811164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"System for automatic generation of algorithm visualizations based on pseudocode interpretation","authors":"Jure Mornar, A. Granić, Saša Mladenović","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2591743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2591743","url":null,"abstract":"Algorithm visualization systems have not been as widely adopted by computer science educators as it might be expected from the firm belief that they can enhance computer science education. Two key impediments for widely adopting AV technology in mainstream computer science are: effectiveness and enhancements of learning with visualization and effort needed to create algorithm visualizations. In this paper, we present the interpretation based system capable of automatic creation of algorithm visualizations by interpreting unmodified algorithms written in pseudocode. Although system is interpreting unmodified source code (code without any annotations for triggering appropriate visualization routines), due to the ability to automatically detect interesting events system is able to create visualizations at a sufficiently high level of abstraction so that the emphasis is on algorithmic conceptually relevant principles. Providing users with full control over input data set and by accompanying animation with explanatory messages, highlighting currently executing pseudocode line and providing possibility to inspect variable values at any step visualizations created by our system that can enhance learning and help students mastering algorithms basic concepts.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127075158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Making group processes explicit to student: a case of justice","authors":"Ville Isomöttönen","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2591717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2591717","url":null,"abstract":"This article considers student learning about group work in the context of project courses where student groups work under realistic expectations. Based on the literature, justice is explicated as a group work concept and regarded as a professional skill that can be practiced. Preliminary student feedback on teaching through continuous discussions on justice are presented together with teacher experiences.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"73 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125951614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Meeting the future challenges of education and digitization","authors":"J. Gulliksen","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2602689","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2602689","url":null,"abstract":"Schools and education are of immense political importance, particularly for the upcoming election, both in the European union and for Sweden. The Pisa surveys show disappointing results for Sweden, and the Swedish Committee for Digitisation has analyzed IT education in the school sector and developed concrete proposals to provide the Swedish government with a basis for future educational policy making. This development also has a great impact on how higher education will need to evolve. Technology, in many ways, changes the playing field for education and life long learning, and thus the pedagogy and leadership upon which our education is based also needs to change. This talk discusses the current view of education and life long learning and brings provocative ideas to the table concerning the future of ICT in Education.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131208350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Selective hiding for improved algorithmic visualization","authors":"Z. Kátai","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2591734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2591734","url":null,"abstract":"In order to benefit most from algorithm visualization (AV) technology students have to be meaningfully involved in the algorithm visualisation process. This may imply that they are invited to predict and implement (using an interactive visual learning environment) the operation-sequence of the studied algorithm. In such learning environments users become active players in the AV process. Students are invited to process algorithms (in terms of their high-level operations) created to be processed by computers. The study we have performed reveals latent deficiencies such AV systems might have. Compared to humans, computers are blind in many ways. Visualizing information that has extra meanings for human viewers can obstruct them in following strict computer algorithms. Research results show that wisely applied hiding may result in more effective algorithm visualization due to its higher epistemic fidelity.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131211417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antti-Jussi Lakanen, Ville Isomöttönen, V. Lappalainen
{"title":"Understanding differences among coding club students","authors":"Antti-Jussi Lakanen, Ville Isomöttönen, V. Lappalainen","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2591716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2591716","url":null,"abstract":"Scholars and instructors have been carrying out a multitude of actions to increase students' interest in computer science during the past years. Still, there is a need for knowledge on how these attempts develop student interest. In this qualitative study, we construct illustrative categories out of students who have attended our K-12 coding club and game programming summer course activities. We found four categories: Inactivity, Lack of self-direction, Experimenting, and Professionalism. We also briefly project this abstraction onto a four-phase model of interest development.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131778029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A small scale project to investigate the current and potential use of collaborative tools at sheffield hallam university","authors":"Thomas Michael Gibson, Cheryl Middleton","doi":"10.1145/2591708.2602672","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/2591708.2602672","url":null,"abstract":"This poster presents key findings based on a current project exploring the further use and deployment of new and developing collaboration tools in undergraduate distance learning and on-campus courses based at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). An extensive report and tool base has been produced to make recommendations of collaborative technologies to support teaching delivery and assessment of courses at undergraduate level. Initial primary research has been carried out to evaluate pros and cons of existing tools currently used in group and self-based assessment in undergraduate modules.","PeriodicalId":334476,"journal":{"name":"Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education","volume":"309 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131801665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}