Anna Y. Q. Huang, Cheng-Yan Lin, Sheng-Yi Su, Stephen J. H. Yang
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To address this problem, this study developed CodeFlow Assistant (CFA), a specifically developed generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool that provides four levels of scaffolding guidance (flowcharts, cloze coding, basic coding solutions, and advanced coding solutions) to support novice programmers in mastering skills ranging from foundational understanding to advanced application. Through a controlled experiment comparing SRL-based, teaching assistant (TA)-assisted programming (SRLP-TA) and SRL-based, CFA-assisted programming (SRLP-CFA), this study evaluated the effect of CFA on coding performance, cognitive loads, and SRL abilities among novice programming students. The results indicated that compared with the SRLP-TA group, the SRLP-CFA group achieved statistically significantly higher coding scores but showed comparable improvements in understanding programming concepts. Moreover, CFA reduced intrinsic and extraneous cognitive loads while enhancing germane load, fostering deeper knowledge integration and engagement. These findings highlight the role of CFA in enhancing coding performance, particularly in translating conceptual understanding into practice. This tool also statistically significantly improved SRL abilities, such as intrinsic goal orientation, task value, and metacognitive self-regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48315,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Educational Technology","volume":"56 5","pages":"1942-1972"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"The impact of GenAI-enabled coding hints on students' programming performance and cognitive load in an SRL-based Python course\",\"authors\":\"Anna Y. Q. Huang, Cheng-Yan Lin, Sheng-Yi Su, Stephen J. H. Yang\",\"doi\":\"10.1111/bjet.13589\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<p>Programming education often imposes a high cognitive burden on novice programmers, requiring them to master syntax, logic, and problem-solving while simultaneously managing debugging tasks. Prior knowledge is a critical factor influencing programming learning performance. A lack of foundational knowledge limits students' self-regulated learning (SRL) abilities, resulting in a performance gap between students with high and low levels of prior knowledge. To address this problem, this study developed CodeFlow Assistant (CFA), a specifically developed generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool that provides four levels of scaffolding guidance (flowcharts, cloze coding, basic coding solutions, and advanced coding solutions) to support novice programmers in mastering skills ranging from foundational understanding to advanced application. Through a controlled experiment comparing SRL-based, teaching assistant (TA)-assisted programming (SRLP-TA) and SRL-based, CFA-assisted programming (SRLP-CFA), this study evaluated the effect of CFA on coding performance, cognitive loads, and SRL abilities among novice programming students. The results indicated that compared with the SRLP-TA group, the SRLP-CFA group achieved statistically significantly higher coding scores but showed comparable improvements in understanding programming concepts. Moreover, CFA reduced intrinsic and extraneous cognitive loads while enhancing germane load, fostering deeper knowledge integration and engagement. These findings highlight the role of CFA in enhancing coding performance, particularly in translating conceptual understanding into practice. This tool also statistically significantly improved SRL abilities, such as intrinsic goal orientation, task value, and metacognitive self-regulation.</p>\",\"PeriodicalId\":48315,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"British Journal of Educational Technology\",\"volume\":\"56 5\",\"pages\":\"1942-1972\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":8.1000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-04-21\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"British Journal of Educational Technology\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"95\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.13589\",\"RegionNum\":1,\"RegionCategory\":\"教育学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"British Journal of Educational Technology","FirstCategoryId":"95","ListUrlMain":"https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.13589","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
The impact of GenAI-enabled coding hints on students' programming performance and cognitive load in an SRL-based Python course
Programming education often imposes a high cognitive burden on novice programmers, requiring them to master syntax, logic, and problem-solving while simultaneously managing debugging tasks. Prior knowledge is a critical factor influencing programming learning performance. A lack of foundational knowledge limits students' self-regulated learning (SRL) abilities, resulting in a performance gap between students with high and low levels of prior knowledge. To address this problem, this study developed CodeFlow Assistant (CFA), a specifically developed generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool that provides four levels of scaffolding guidance (flowcharts, cloze coding, basic coding solutions, and advanced coding solutions) to support novice programmers in mastering skills ranging from foundational understanding to advanced application. Through a controlled experiment comparing SRL-based, teaching assistant (TA)-assisted programming (SRLP-TA) and SRL-based, CFA-assisted programming (SRLP-CFA), this study evaluated the effect of CFA on coding performance, cognitive loads, and SRL abilities among novice programming students. The results indicated that compared with the SRLP-TA group, the SRLP-CFA group achieved statistically significantly higher coding scores but showed comparable improvements in understanding programming concepts. Moreover, CFA reduced intrinsic and extraneous cognitive loads while enhancing germane load, fostering deeper knowledge integration and engagement. These findings highlight the role of CFA in enhancing coding performance, particularly in translating conceptual understanding into practice. This tool also statistically significantly improved SRL abilities, such as intrinsic goal orientation, task value, and metacognitive self-regulation.
期刊介绍:
BJET is a primary source for academics and professionals in the fields of digital educational and training technology throughout the world. The Journal is published by Wiley on behalf of The British Educational Research Association (BERA). It publishes theoretical perspectives, methodological developments and high quality empirical research that demonstrate whether and how applications of instructional/educational technology systems, networks, tools and resources lead to improvements in formal and non-formal education at all levels, from early years through to higher, technical and vocational education, professional development and corporate training.