Using Competition to Sustain Motivation – TOPS Evolves

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Description/Abstract

Supporting and sustaining the motivation of our most able and experienced first year undergraduates in introductory programming modules is as important as providing a supportive environment for novices who face a greater and more difficult challenge of mastering their first programming language. Designing and integrating additional challenges into the curriculum can be time consuming and onerous for the individual academic tasked with instructing an introductory programming module. This poster reports on the progress of the HEA-ICS funded TOPS initiative which promotes academic collaboration to stage an inter-university competition for first year programming students. Although the organisational and logistical are complex, students have found the activity rewarding both during the competition, and through subsequent reflection.