Abstract:
This study explores students' cognitive processes while debugging programs by using an eye tracker. Students' eye movements during debugging were recorded by an eye track...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
This study explores students' cognitive processes while debugging programs by using an eye tracker. Students' eye movements during debugging were recorded by an eye tracker to investigate whether and how high- and low-performance students act differently during debugging. Thirty-eight computer science undergraduates were asked to debug two C programs. The path of students' gaze while following program codes was subjected to sequential analysis to reveal significant sequences of areas examined. These significant gaze path sequences were then compared to those of students with different debugging performances. The results show that, when debugging, high-performance students traced programs in a more logical manner, whereas low-performance students tended to stick to a line-by-line sequence and were unable to quickly derive the program's higher-level logic. Low-performance students also often jumped directly to certain suspected statements to find bugs, without following the program's logic. They also often needed to trace back to prior statements to recall information, and spent more time on manual computation. Based on the research results, adaptive instructional strategies and materials can be developed for students of different performance levels, to improve associated cognitive activities during debugging, which can foster learning during debugging and programming.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 59, Issue: 3, August 2016)
Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yu-Tzu Lin (M’08) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in information and computer education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. Her research interests include computer science education, educ...Show More
Yu-Tzu Lin (M’08) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in information and computer education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. Her research interests include computer science education, educ...View more
Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Cheng-Chih Wu received the B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees in industrial education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in science education from The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
He is currently a Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests include e-Learning, mobile learning, and computer s...Show More
Cheng-Chih Wu received the B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees in industrial education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in science education from The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
He is currently a Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests include e-Learning, mobile learning, and computer s...View more
Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ting-Yun Hou received the B.S. degree in information management from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, in 2011, and the M.S. degree in computer science education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, in 2013.
She is now a Teacher in a tutorial school.
Ting-Yun Hou received the B.S. degree in information management from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, in 2011, and the M.S. degree in computer science education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, in 2013.
She is now a Teacher in a tutorial school.View more
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yuanpei University, HsinChu, Taiwan
Yu-Chih Lin received the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, the M.S. degree in biomedical engineering from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University.
She currently works with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yuanpei Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan, as an Assistant Professor. Her rese...Show More
Yu-Chih Lin received the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, the M.S. degree in biomedical engineering from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University.
She currently works with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yuanpei Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan, as an Assistant Professor. Her rese...View more
Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Fang-Ying Yang received the M.Ed. degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, in 1995, and the Ed.D. degree from Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, in 1999, both in science education.
Since 2000, she has been a faculty member with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. Currently, she is a full-time Professor. Her main research interests focus on scientific r...Show More
Fang-Ying Yang received the M.Ed. degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, in 1995, and the Ed.D. degree from Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, in 1999, both in science education.
Since 2000, she has been a faculty member with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. Currently, she is a full-time Professor. Her main research interests focus on scientific r...View more
Graduate Institute of Networking and Multimedia, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chia-Hu Chang received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, in 2003, the M.S. degree in communication engineering from National Central University, Taiwan, in 2005, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 2010.
He is now a Data Scientist whose interests are in data mining, social network analysis, multimedia networking, and mult...Show More
Chia-Hu Chang received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, in 2003, the M.S. degree in communication engineering from National Central University, Taiwan, in 2005, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 2010.
He is now a Data Scientist whose interests are in data mining, social network analysis, multimedia networking, and mult...View more
Contents Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yu-Tzu Lin (M’08) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in information and computer education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. Her research interests include computer science education, educational technologies, social network analysis, digital content analysis, multimedia security, pattern recognition, and image processing.
Yu-Tzu Lin (M’08) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in information and computer education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. Her research interests include computer science education, educational technologies, social network analysis, digital content analysis, multimedia security, pattern recognition, and image processing.View more
Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Cheng-Chih Wu received the B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees in industrial education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in science education from The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
He is currently a Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests include e-Learning, mobile learning, and computer science education.
Cheng-Chih Wu received the B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees in industrial education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in science education from The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
He is currently a Professor with the Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests include e-Learning, mobile learning, and computer science education.View more
Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ting-Yun Hou received the B.S. degree in information management from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, in 2011, and the M.S. degree in computer science education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, in 2013.
She is now a Teacher in a tutorial school.
Ting-Yun Hou received the B.S. degree in information management from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, in 2011, and the M.S. degree in computer science education from National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, in 2013.
She is now a Teacher in a tutorial school.View more
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yuanpei University, HsinChu, Taiwan
Yu-Chih Lin received the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, the M.S. degree in biomedical engineering from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University.
She currently works with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yuanpei Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan, as an Assistant Professor. Her research interests are in the fields of vibration analysis of piezoelectric materials, biomechanics, human gait analysis, and photomechanics.
Yu-Chih Lin received the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, the M.S. degree in biomedical engineering from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University.
She currently works with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yuanpei Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan, as an Assistant Professor. Her research interests are in the fields of vibration analysis of piezoelectric materials, biomechanics, human gait analysis, and photomechanics.View more
Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Fang-Ying Yang received the M.Ed. degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, in 1995, and the Ed.D. degree from Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, in 1999, both in science education.
Since 2000, she has been a faculty member with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. Currently, she is a full-time Professor. Her main research interests focus on scientific reasoning, concept development in science, science-text reading, and multimedia learning. The eye tracking method is frequently used in her studies.
Fang-Ying Yang received the M.Ed. degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, in 1995, and the Ed.D. degree from Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, in 1999, both in science education.
Since 2000, she has been a faculty member with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. Currently, she is a full-time Professor. Her main research interests focus on scientific reasoning, concept development in science, science-text reading, and multimedia learning. The eye tracking method is frequently used in her studies.View more
Graduate Institute of Networking and Multimedia, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chia-Hu Chang received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, in 2003, the M.S. degree in communication engineering from National Central University, Taiwan, in 2005, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 2010.
He is now a Data Scientist whose interests are in data mining, social network analysis, multimedia networking, and multimedia content analysis.
Chia-Hu Chang received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, in 2003, the M.S. degree in communication engineering from National Central University, Taiwan, in 2005, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 2010.
He is now a Data Scientist whose interests are in data mining, social network analysis, multimedia networking, and multimedia content analysis.View more
