Describes a study which compared the instructional effectiveness of a team-based, peer-review approach to teaching programing skills to secondary school students, with that of a traditional approach. The discussion covers students' attitudes and programing skills development resulting from the implementation of the experimental approach. (Nine…

Described and critiqued are two ideas which have proven valuable in teaching programming at the introductory level, the mental model and the programming plan. (PK)

This paper reports the evaluation of instructional provisions designed to foster higher cognitive skill in a computer programming course. This intervention explicitly encourages novice programmers to engage in the problem-solving skill of planning. (Author)

Describes some commands, simple programing procedures, and applications of the programing language LOGO, including its powerful recursive feature and its value in teaching problem solving. A listing of LOGO graphics packages includes details of software and print materials, prices, and microcomputers that will support the packages. (EAO)

The Management-Oriented Systems Design Method (MASD) is used by the Institute of Information Technology (Japan) as one of its main training courses. An outline of the curriculum for this course is provided and major MASD features are discussed. (JN)

Computer-naive university students (N=124) were taught the BASIC programing language by solving and receiving feedback on program comprehension problems stated in BASIC or on corresponding problems stated in English followed by problems stated in BASIC. Results support a sequential method of instruction beginning with use of natural language…

Pretests measuring critical thinking ability and mental alertness were administered to 72 first-year college students at the beginning of an introductory computer programing course. Posttests administered at the end of the semester showed significant improvement in both areas, indicating that instruction in programing improves students' critical…

Describes a study that examined the formal reasoning abilities of 147 preservice students in elementary education enrolled in a computer education course. Use of the Arlin Test of Formal Reasoning (ATFR) is explained, and correlations between students' ages and grade point averages and their scores on the ATFR are discussed. (Contains 22…

The primary purpose of this study was to analyze different perceptions displayed by novice programmers in the C++ programming language, and determine if modularization ability could be improved by an instructional treatment that concentrated on solving computer programs from previously existing modules. This study attempted to answer the following…

In this paper, we discuss the role of the educator in terms of designing a learning environment for the student which encourages the student to develop their own academic integrity. In such an environment, there is no need for the student to resort to plagiarism, as the learning and assessment tasks are not conducive to cheating, being unique and…

This curriculum is proposed to enhance problem-solving ability through learning to program in BASIC. Current research shows development of problem-solving skills from learning to program in BASIC. Successful treatments have been based on contemporary problem-solving theory, top-down, modular programing, and rigorous length and intensity. The…

The Mathematics Teacher Development Program was an effort to develop the skills of classroom teachers in the use of handheld calculators and microcomputer systems. It was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Loyola University, and it consisted of an academic portion and an intense 3-week, full-time summer session. The focus of this…

Designed to improve students' thinking, learning, and creative skills while they learn to program a microcomputer in BASIC programing language, this instructional manual for beginning learners provides a brief section of information for each new topic together with a sample program to enter, run on the computer, and observe; a suggested change to…

Designed to improve students' thinking, learning, and creative skills while they learn to program a microcomputer in BASIC programing language, this instructional manual for intermediate learners provides a brief section of information for each new topic together with a sample program to enter, run on the computer, and observe; a suggested change…

Designed to improve students' thinking, learning, and creative skills while they learn to program a microcomputer in BASIC programing language, this instructional manual for advanced learners provides a brief section of information for each new topic together with a sample program to enter, run on the computer, and observe; a suggested change to…