864 research outputs found
Emergent requirements for supporting introductory programming
The problems associated with learning and teaching first year University Computer Science (CS1) programming classes are summarized showing that various support tools and techniques have been developed and evaluated. From this review of applicable support the paper derives ten requirements that a support tool should have in order to improve CS1 student success rate with respect to learning and understanding
Links between the personalities, styles and performance in computer programming
There are repetitive patterns in strategies of manipulating source code. For
example, modifying source code before acquiring knowledge of how a code works
is a depth-first style and reading and understanding before modifying source
code is a breadth-first style. To the extent we know there is no study on the
influence of personality on them. The objective of this study is to understand
the influence of personality on programming styles. We did a correlational
study with 65 programmers at the University of Stuttgart. Academic achievement,
programming experience, attitude towards programming and five personality
factors were measured via self-assessed survey. The programming styles were
asked in the survey or mined from the software repositories. Performance in
programming was composed of bug-proneness of programmers which was mined from
software repositories, the grades they got in a software project course and
their estimate of their own programming ability. We did statistical analysis
and found that Openness to Experience has a positive association with
breadth-first style and Conscientiousness has a positive association with
depth-first style. We also found that in addition to having more programming
experience and better academic achievement, the styles of working depth-first
and saving coarse-grained revisions improve performance in programming.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figure
A methodology for the capture and analysis of hybrid data: a case study of program debugging
No description supplie
Introductory programming: a systematic literature review
As computing becomes a mainstream discipline embedded in the school curriculum and acts as an enabler for an increasing range of academic disciplines in higher education, the literature on introductory programming is growing. Although there have been several reviews that focus on specific aspects of introductory programming, there has been no broad overview of the literature exploring recent trends across the breadth of introductory programming.
This paper is the report of an ITiCSE working group that conducted a systematic review in order to gain an overview of the introductory programming literature. Partitioning the literature into papers addressing the student, teaching, the curriculum, and assessment, we explore trends, highlight advances in knowledge over the past 15 years, and indicate possible directions for future research
Fabrication, structure and properties of epoxy/metal nanocomposites
Gd2O3 nanoparticles surface-modiïŹed with IPDI were compounded with epoxy. IPDI provided an anchor into the porous Gd2O3 surface and a bridge into the matrix, thus creating strong bonds between matrix and Gd2O3. 1.7 vol.-% Gd2O3 increased the Youngâs modulus of epoxy by 16â19%; the surface-modiïŹed Gd2O3 nanoparticles improved the critical strain energy release rate by 64.3% as compared to 26.4% produced by the unmodiïŹed nanoparticles. The X-ray shielding efïŹciency of neat epoxy was enhanced by 300â360%, independent of the interface modiïŹcation. Interface debonding consumes energy and leads to crack pinning and matrix shear banding; most fracture energy is consumed by matrix shear banding as shown by the large number of ridges on the fracture surface
Expectation incongruence in music and code reading: The eye-tracking approach
Humans create and use different kinds of languages in order to store, view, and convey various types of information. Natural languages, such as English, allow people to communicate with each other in everyday and professional contexts. In contrast, symbolic languages, such as Western music notation or programming languages, enable people to make use of technical devices like musical instruments or computers. Research on the eye movements of expert musicians and programmers has revealed certain similarities in how these symbolic languages are read: unlike text reading, experts read music and code with more regressive eye movements. The current dissertation is the first project that explores music and code reading together. It focuses on one of the aspects of music and code reading that is equally important for both symbolic languagesâthe skill of working with unexpected information from a notation. In music and programming, this skill is especially required in tasks such as handling surprising melodic patterns and debugging, respectively.
This dissertation had three main aims: (1) theoretical exploration of similarities and differences in creating expectations that help with pattern recognition in music and programming; (2) development (in music reading) and creation (in code reading) of research methodologies that can be applied in research on incongruent patterns; and (3) exploration of the cognitive processing of incongruent notation in experienced music readers and one experienced code reader.
Surprising elements in familiar patterns hamper their recognition. Article I presents a theoretical exploration of the similarities and differences in building expectations that allow pattern recognition in music and programming. The proposed prediction model, which serves as the solution to Aim 1, includes three components that are common for both music and programming: (1) knowledge of language systems, (2) knowledge of meaning, and (3) knowledge of context. In addition, it also contains two components that differ for music and programming: (4) translation of information and (5) temporal and motor requirements. Experiments presented in this dissertation can be considered to be the first steps toward looking at certain components of the proposed prediction model in detail when prediction works normally (congruent notation) and when prediction is violated (incongruent notation).
In order to study the reading of surprising incongruent patterns in music and code, special experimental settings, which provide the solution to Aim 2, were developed for music reading and created for code reading. Hence, the selected setup for the music reading study was based on a prior study (Penttinen et al., 2015), where incongruences were introduced in the âMary Had a Little Lambâ melody and all music performances were temporarily controlled using a metronome. Experiment 1 developed this set-up by inserting incongruent notes into two different tonalities and by asking participants to play on a piano or sing from the notation. Thus, the music reading experiment focused on the first, second, fourth, and fifth components of the proposed model in music reading. It explored how the meaning of congruent and incongruent musical symbols is processed by experienced music readers. In addition, it also explored the translation of music information into two different performance ways (singing and playing piano) that have different motor requirements. Combining three different eye movement parameters allowed the researcher to describe different aspects of the cognitive processing of incongruent music readingâthe temporal aspect, with the help of the eye-time span parameter (ETS), the cognitive effort aspect with the help of the mean pupil size parameter measured only in first-pass fixations, and the attention aspect with the help of the first-pass fixation duration. Experiment 2 on code reading was carefully designed on the basis of the music reading study. Consequently, incongruences were introduced in different parts of the familiar notation. The Bubble sort algorithmâa well-known sorting algorithmâwas chosen as an analogue of the âMary Had a Little Lambâ melody in programming. As in the music reading study, all code reading performances were temporarily controlled. The case code study provided some insights into the first and second components of the proposed model in programming by investigating how an experienced programmer reads sorting algorithms with and without surprising patterns. It particularly focuses on the phenomenon of an experienced reader overlooking the surprising pattern, which is considered to be the original one instead so-called proof-readersâ error. In addition, this study explored the issue of the unit of code reading analysis by comparing two different options: lines and elements. The study introduced saccade velocity as a parameter of cognitive effort for the incongruent code reading analysis.
Research findings from these experimental studies provided the solution to Aim 3 and revealed thatâin both music and code readingâincongruent patterns in the notation led to changes in fixation and cognitive effort parameters (pupil size and saccadic velocity). In contrast to code reading, strict temporal requirements for the processing of incongruence exist in music reading. The application of the eye-time span (ETS) parameter that describes the distance between the performerâs gaze and musical time, allowed the researcher to investigate the temporal aspect of incongruence processing in the music reading experiment. Hence, experienced readers had longer ETS when they approached the incongruent part of the notation and shorter ETS when they were in the process of struggling with the incongruent part. In addition to incongruent reading, the difference in the performance mode of the same music task associated with the translation of information and motor requirements was studied in the music reading experiment by comparing singing and playing from music scores. Despite the fact that the participants played incongruent melodies better than they sang them, the analysis of eye movement parameters allowed the researcher to discover that singing might be less cognitively demanding than playing. These findings are discussed within the proposed theoretical model of prediction and associated expertise theories.Odotusten vastaisten symbolien lukeminen: katseenseurantatutkimus nuotin- ja koodinluvusta
Ihmiset luovat ja kÀyttÀvÀt erilaisia kieliÀ tallentaakseen, tarkastellakseen ja vÀlittÀÀkseen informaatiota. Luonnolliset kielet, kuten englanti, mahdollistavat ihmisten vÀlisen kommunikaation arkisissa ja ammatillisissa tilanteissa. Sen sijaan symboliset kielet, kuten lÀnsimainen nuottikirjoitus tai ohjelmointikielet, mahdollistavat erilaisten laitteiden, kuten soittimien tai tietokoneiden, operoinnin. Taitavien muusikkojen ja koodinlukijoiden silmÀnliikkeiden tutkimus on paljastanut joitakin samankaltaisuuksia siitÀ, miten nÀitÀ kahta symbolikieltÀ luetaan: toisin kuin tekstin lukemisessa, taitavat nuotin- ja koodinlukijat tekevÀt enemmÀn regressiivisiÀ, eli taaksepÀin suuntautuvia silmÀnliikkeitÀ. TÀmÀ vÀitöstutkimus on ensimmÀinen tutkimushanke, jossa tarkastellaan nuotin- ja koodinlukua rinnakkain. Tutkimus keskittyy tiettyyn, molemmissa symbolikielissÀ tÀrkeÀÀn piirteeseen, eli taitoon selvitÀ lukemisen aikana notaatiossa havaittuun yllÀttÀvÀÀn informaatioon. SekÀ musiikin ettÀ ohjelmoinnin aloilla tÀtÀ taitoa tarvitaan silloin, kun lukijan tÀytyy kÀsitellÀ yllÀttÀviÀ melodisia kuvioita musiikkikappaletta lukiessaan tai etsiÀ virheitÀ koodista. TÀllÀ vÀitöstutkimuksella oli kolme pÀÀtavoitetta: (1) teoreettinen pohdinta nuotin- ja koodinluvun yhtÀlÀisyyksistÀ ja eroavaisuuksista ja erityisesti siitÀ, miten taitavat lukijat muodostavat ennakko-oletuksia lukemastaan symbolien tunnistamisen helpottamiseksi; (2) menetelmien kehittÀminen (nuotinluvussa) ja luominen (koodinluvussa) inkongruenttien, eli epÀyhdenmukaisten, kuvioiden lukemisen tutkimukseen; ja (3) taitavien nuotinlukijoiden ja yhden taitavan koodinlukijan kognitiivisen prosessoinnin tutkiminen silloin, kun lukijat kÀsittelevÀt inkongruenttia informaatiota.
YllÀttÀvÀt elementit tutussa visuaalisessa materiaalissa vaikeuttavat kyseessÀ olevan materiaalin prosessointia. Artikkelissa I pohditaan nuotin- ja koodinluvun teoreettisia eroja ja eroavaisuuksista ja sitÀ, miten taitavat lukijat muodostavat ennakko-oletuksia lukiessaan. Ehdotettu ennustusmalli, jonka avulla vastataan pÀÀtavoitteeseen 1, sisÀltÀÀ kolme molemmille symbolikielille yhteistÀ komponenttia: (1) tiedon kielijÀrjestelmÀstÀ, (2) tiedon merkityksestÀ ja (3) tiedon kontekstista. TÀmÀn lisÀksi malli sisÀltÀÀ kaksi komponenttia, joissa nuotin- ja koodinluku eroavat toisistaan: (4) informaation kÀÀntÀminen laitteelle ja (5) temporaaliset ja motoriset vaatimukset. TÀssÀ vÀitöstutkimuksessa esiteltÀvÀt empiiriset osahankkeet olivat ensiaskelia ennustusmallin komponenttien tutkimuksessa. Kahdessa osahankkeessa tarkasteltiin yksityiskohtaisesti tilanteita, joissa ennakko-oletuksia voi hyödyntÀÀ tavalliseen tapaan (kongruentti notaatio) ja kun odotukset eivÀt toteudu (inkongruentti notaatio).
TĂ€ssĂ€ vĂ€itöstutkimuksessa kehitettiin koeasetelmia nuotin- ja koodinluvun aikaisten, yllĂ€ttĂ€vien ja inkongruenttien kuvioiden lukemisen tutkimusta varten (pÀÀtavoite 2). Nuotinlukuaiheinen koeasetelma pohjautui aikaisempaan tutkimukseen (Penttinen et al., 2015), jossa epĂ€yhdenmukaisuuksia sijoitettiin tuttuun âMaijallâ oli karitsaâ âmelodiaan ja soittosuoritusten ajoitusta kontrolloitiin metronomin avulla. Osatutkimus 1 kehitti tĂ€tĂ€ asetelmaa edelleen esittĂ€mĂ€llĂ€ tutun kappaleen osallistujille kahdessa eri sĂ€vellajissa ja pyytĂ€mĂ€llĂ€ osallistujia toteuttamaan melodia kahdella eri tavalla, soittaen ja laulaen. Osatutkimus 1 keskittyi siis ennustusmallin ensimmĂ€iseen, toiseen, neljĂ€nteen ja viidenteen komponenttiin nuotinlukemisen nĂ€kökulmasta. Osatutkimuksessa 1 tutkittiin kuinka taitavat nuotinlukijat prosessoivat kongruenttien ja inkongruenttien nuottisymbolien merkityksiĂ€. TĂ€mĂ€n lisĂ€ksi osahanke selvitti sitĂ€, miten nuottiinformaatio kÀÀnnettiin kahdelle motorisilta vaatimuksiltaan erilaiselle âsoittimelleâ (pianonsoitto ja laulaminen). Kognitiivisia prosesseja inkongruentin materiaalin lukemisen aikana kuvailtiin kolmen eri silmĂ€nliikemuuttujan turvin: lukuprosessin ajallista etenemistĂ€ selvitettiin eye-time span âmittarin (ETS) avulla, kognitiivista työmÀÀrÀÀ mittaamalla pupillin koon vaihtelua, ja fiksaatioiden kestot kertoivat huomion kohdistumisesta notaation eri osiin ensilukemisen aikana. Koodinlukuun keskittyvĂ€ osatutkimus 2 suunniteltiin osatutkimuksen 1 koeasetelman pohjalta ja epĂ€yhdenmukaisuudet sijoitettiin jĂ€lleen tuttuun notaatioon. Koodinlukukokeessa nuotinlukukokeen âMaijallâ oli karitsaâ âmelodian tilalle valittiin hyvin tunnettu kuplalajittelualgoritmi, ja myös koodinlukutehtĂ€vĂ€ssĂ€ kontrolloitiin ajankĂ€yttöÀ.
Tapaustutkimuksessa selvitettiin, miten kokenut ohjelmoija luki lajittelualgoritmia silloin kun siinĂ€ joko oli tai ei ollut inkongruentteja kohtia. NĂ€in voitiin tarkastella ennustusmallin ensimmĂ€istĂ€ ja toista komponenttia koodinlukemisen nĂ€kökulmasta. Tapaustutkimus keskittyi erityisesti tilanteeseen, jossa kokenut lukija ohitti yllĂ€ttĂ€vĂ€t elementit notaatiossa ja tulkitsi inkongruentin algoritmin oikeaksi ja alkuperĂ€iseksi (ns. proof-readersâ error). TĂ€mĂ€n lisĂ€ksi osatutkimuksessa 2 testattiin koodinlukututkimuksiin sopivia analyysiyksiköitĂ€ vertaamalla kahta vaihtoehtoa, rivejĂ€ ja elementtejĂ€, ja esiteltiin sakkadien nopeus kognitiivisen työmÀÀrĂ€n tarkasteluun sopivana, koodinlukututkimuksille uutena mittarina.
Osatutkimusten 1 ja 2 perusteella vastattiin pÀÀtavoitteeseen 3. Osatutkimuksissa selvisi, ettÀ sekÀ nuotin- ettÀ koodinlukutilanteissa inkongruentit kohdat notaatiossa johtivat muutoksiin fiksaatio- ja kognitiivisen työmÀÀrÀn mittareissa (pupillin koko ja sakkadin nopeus). Toisin kuin koodinluvussa, tiukat temporaaliset rajoitteet sÀÀtelevÀt inkongruenssin prosessointia nuotinluvun aikana. TÀstÀ syystÀ nuotinlukukokeessa hyödynnettiin ETS-mittaria, joka kertoo katseen kohdan ja musiikillisen ajan vÀlisestÀ etÀisyydestÀ. Taitavien nuotinlukijoiden ETS oli pidempi, kun he lukiessaan lÀhestyivÀt inkongruenttia kohtaa, ja lyhyempi, kun he soittivat tÀtÀ samaista kohtaa. Inkongruentin kohdan lukemisen lisÀksi tutkittiin kahta erilaista esitystapaa (laulaminen ja soittaminen), sillÀ esitystapa liittyy nuotti-informaation kÀÀntÀmiseen oikeiksi motoriksiksi liikkeiksi. Vaikka osallistujat soittivat inkongruentit melodiat paremmin kuin he lauloivat ne, silmÀnliikkeiden tarkastelu osoitti ettÀ laulaminen saattoi silti olla osallistujille kognitiivisesti vÀhemmÀn vaativaa kuin soittaminen. NÀitÀ havaintoja pohditaan vÀitöskirjatutkimuksessa esitetyn ennustusmallin sekÀ asiantuntijuusteorioiden valossa
Debugging: The Key to Unlocking the Mind of a Novice Programmer?
Novice programmers must master two skills to show lasting success: writing code and, when that fails, the ability to debug it. Instructors spend much time teaching the details of writing code but debugging gets significantly less attention. But what if teaching debugging could implicitly teach other aspects of coding better than teaching a language teaching debugging? This paper explores a new theoretical framework, the Theory of Applied Mind for Programming (TAMP), which merges dual process theory with Jerome Brunerâs theory of representations to model the mind of a programmer. TAMP looks to provide greater explanatory power in why novices struggle and suggest pedagogy to bridge gaps in learning. This paper will provide an example of this by reinterpreting debugging literature using TAMP as a theoretical guide. Incorporating new view theoretical viewpoints from old studies suggests a âdebugging-firstâ pedagogy can supplement existing methods of teaching programming and perhaps fill some of the mental gaps TAMP suggests hamper novice programmers
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