Learning Experiences in Programming: The Motivating Effect of a Physical Interface

A study of undergraduate students learning to program compared the use of a physical interface with use of a screen-based equivalent interface to obtain insights into what made for an engaging learning experience. Emotions characterized by the HUMAINE scheme were analysed, identifying the links between the emotions experienced during programming and their origin. By capturing the emotional experiences of learners immediately after a programming experience, evidence was collected of the very positive emotions experienced by learners developing a program using a physical interface (Arduino) in comparison with a similar program developed using a screen-based equivalent interface

Learning Dimensions: Lessons from Field Studies

In this paper, we describe work to investigate the creation of engaging programming learning experiences. Background research informed the design of four fieldwork studies involving a range of age groups to explore how programming tasks could best be framed to motivate learners. Our empirical findings from these four studies, described here, contributed to the design of a set of programming "Learning Dimensions" (LDs). The LDs provide educators with insights to support key design decisions for the creation of engaging programming learning experiences. This paper describes the background to the identification of these LDs and how they could address the design and delivery of highly engaging programming learning tasks. A web application has been authored to support educators in the application of the LDs to their lesson design

Winter Backcountry Campers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Their Behavior, Use Patterns and Characteristics

Studies of backcountry or wilderness use to date have been based on summer or peak season use. Due to the lack of research concerning winter backcountry use, a comparative study was conducted to investigate potential differences in the behavior, use, and user characteristics of winter and summer backcountry campers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Major questions to be addressed in the study were: (1) are the user characteristics and use patterns of winter backcountry campers significantly different from those of summer campers? (2) are the motives of winter backcountry campers different from those of summer campers? and (3) is area substitution on a seasonal basis a major motive for winter backpacking in the Park? A sample of Park backcountry overnight use permits from the 1979 winter and summer seasons and a mail questionnaire were used for data collection. Use data were surveyed from 580 permits from each season. A two-page mail questionnaire was sent to 300 winter users to gain further information about use and user characteristics, past backpacking experience, motives for winter use, and the possibility of area and seasonal substitution. Results indicate: (1) place of origin (state), day hike originated (weekend versus weekday), type of hike (loop versus non-loop), length of stay, and miles hiked were all significantly different (p ≤ .001) between winter and summer users; (2) the typical winter backpacker in the GSMNP is male (99%), averages 30 years of age (29.5), has been backpacking for 10 years, averages 6.7 trips and 19 days backpacking per year, and participates in winter backpacking significantly more (p ≤ .001) than he does in spring, summer, or fall camping: (3) the major motives for winter camping were experiencing the winter environment and avoiding crowds -- especially summer crowds; and (4) GSMNP winter backcountry campers definitely substitute other areas for the Park during the heavy use summer season. Therefore, while previous backcountry research has shown little evidence for use differences between western and eastern users, there is some evidence to suggest such differences between the winter and summer user

Importance of "historic sites" on Heard Island for protection of scientific resources and environmental management of a World Heritage site

Heard Island has important historic sites relating to the hunting of elephant seals and various scientific activities, which are noted in the World Heritage citation for the island. Some, especially sealing sites, are generally acknowledged to have historic value, but the value of later sites, such as the first ANARE base at Atlas Cove, is debated, due to its recent date, unattractive appearance, rapid deterioration and hazards to wildlife. The authors believe that Atlas Cove is significant to Australia's Antarctic history, but this does not necessarily require that all elements of the site must be preserved in situ. The potential historical value of this site is briefly reviewed; the value of comparative studies of historical, archaeological and materials observation information on historic sites on other Subantarctic islands is also considered. Documentation of these aspects of the sites is essential, certainly before any "clean up" is carried out at Adas Cove since it will produce information to assist in environmental management and may benefit scientific research. Identification of the scientific artefacts and achievements should be an essential part of documentation of Subantarctic sites, but generally has not been given significant attention by archeologists. For development of a statement of significance for Atlas Cove, it is vital

The influence of Socioeconomic Status and Ethnicity on Speech and Language Development

A number of factors influence the speech and language development of young children, and delay in the development of speech and language can have repercussions for school attainment and life chances. This paper is based on a survey of 3-4 year old children in the city of Stoke-on-Trent in the UK. It analyses the data collected from 255 children in 26 schools, and discusses the effects of socioeconomic status and ethnicity on delayed or advanced language development in young children. Language development in the project was measured using the New Reynell Developmental Language Scales (NRDLS) (Edwards, Letts and Sinka, 2011). The study shows mean standard scores for language Production and Comprehension within the low average range, thus demonstrating a challenge confronting nurseries/preschools in the area in preparing children for compulsory schooling. The research has implications for Early Years education policy and practice

Entering STEM in later life: examining the motivations of adult women studying computing

The number of female students qualifying in IT/ computing degrees in the UK has fallen by 10% over the past 5 years (BCS 2016). While most research focuses on young women entering the IT sector, this study examines mature women students at a distance education university in the UK. Our data showed a much lower proportion of women enrolling on the single honours Computing & IT degree programme (12%) compared to the joint honours or open degree programmes (25%) and we wanted to examine their motivation for choosing these different pathways. We found no gender difference in actual attainment or progression once enrolled, but our study showed that women were more likely to have reservations about confidence in their ability to study IT, suggesting that participation in computing, even among women who are already working, continues to be influenced by gendered perceptions and behaviours

Begonia yapenensis (sect. Symbegonia, Begoniaceae), a new species from Papua, Indonesia

A new species, Begonia yapenensis M.Hughes, in Begonia section Symbegonia (Begoniaceae) is described and diagnosed against Begonia sympapuana. The new species is endemic to Yapen Island, Papua, Indonesia, and is currently known from a single collection