Improving the mental models held by novice programmers using cognitive conflict and jeliot visualisations

Ma, L. and Ferguson, J. D. and Roper, M. and Ross, I. and Wood, M.; Brézillon, Patrick and Russell, Ingrid and Labat, Jean-Marc, eds. (2009) Improving the mental models held by novice programmers using cognitive conflict and jeliot visualisations. In: ITICSE 2009. ACM, New York, pp. 166-170. ISBN 978-1-60558-381-5 (https://doi.org/10.1145/1562877.1562931)

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Abstract

Recent research has found that many novice programmers often hold non-viable mental models of basic programming concepts which can limit their potential to develop appropriate programming skills. Previous work by the authors suggests that a teaching model that integrates cognitive conflict and program visualisation can help novices formulate appropriate mental models. This paper first outlines a 'concepts roadmap' that provides an ordered approach to learning programming concepts allowing students to build on fundamental base knowledge. It then reports the results of a series of studies investigating the use of the Jeliot visualisation tool as the visualisation component of the proposed learning model when applied to these concepts. The findings include: the ease with which Jeliot can be tailored to visualise a range of concepts using a variety of examples; the Jeliot visualisation of object reference was too complex for CS1 students; further evidence that CS1 students struggle to develop appropriate understanding of a range of key programming concepts; and, further evidence that an integrated cognitive conflict/visualisation strategy can help students develop an appropriate understanding of key programming concepts.

ORCID iDs

Ma, L., Ferguson, J. D., Roper, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6794-4637, Ross, I. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0106-0745 and Wood, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9449-1036; Brézillon, Patrick, Russell, Ingrid and Labat, Jean-Marc
  • Item type:Book Section
    ID code:42242
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    1 July 2009
    Published
    Keywords:improving, mental models, novice programmers , cognitive conflict, jeliot visualisations, cs1, Electronic computers. Computer science, Computer Science(all)
    Subjects:Science > Mathematics > Electronic computers. Computer science
    Department:Faculty of Science > Computer and Information Sciences
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:30 Nov 2012 15:32
    Last modified:05 Mar 2021 03:56
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/42242
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