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TOPS – Collaboration and Competition to Stretch our Most Able Programming Novices

TOPS – Collaboration and Competition to Stretch our Most Able Programming Novices
TOPS – Collaboration and Competition to Stretch our Most Able Programming Novices
Finding effective means of meeting students’ varied needs during introductory programming classes is a perpetual challenge. Maintaining motivation and a sufficient level of engagement across an undergraduate group with diverse prior experience is not a simple task. Claims for successful approaches include forms of differentiated teaching and paired programming. Competitions run by professional bodies and the software industry are often used to provide further external motivation. This paper presents the outcomes of a collaborative initiative across four universities which drew on aspects of both these approaches. Academics in the partner institutions had already implemented specific practice to accommodate the variety of student needs. The TOPS project was designed to involve and extend students through the processes of devising and competing in an inter-university challenge. Analysis of the outcomes has enabled the development of further understanding and good practice in this important area.
active learning, computer science education, paired programming, student motivation.
1-4244-1084-3/07
21-24
White, S A
5f9a277b-df62-4079-ae97-b9c35264c146
Carter, Janet
64230cac-3e26-4fe1-879a-9de7761770b9
Jamieson, Stephan
d77345fa-48ca-439d-88fc-74af28a37e7e
Efford, Nick
be50ce8d-6153-4d3b-b6fe-f5afaaa37bcd
Jenkins, Tony
cb7b3eb9-f00e-4a49-8715-6eb1b57f4bf6
White, S A
5f9a277b-df62-4079-ae97-b9c35264c146
Carter, Janet
64230cac-3e26-4fe1-879a-9de7761770b9
Jamieson, Stephan
d77345fa-48ca-439d-88fc-74af28a37e7e
Efford, Nick
be50ce8d-6153-4d3b-b6fe-f5afaaa37bcd
Jenkins, Tony
cb7b3eb9-f00e-4a49-8715-6eb1b57f4bf6

White, S A, Carter, Janet, Jamieson, Stephan, Efford, Nick and Jenkins, Tony (2006) TOPS – Collaboration and Competition to Stretch our Most Able Programming Novices. 37th Annual ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education, Milwaukee, Wi. 11 - 13 Oct 2007. pp. 21-24 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Finding effective means of meeting students’ varied needs during introductory programming classes is a perpetual challenge. Maintaining motivation and a sufficient level of engagement across an undergraduate group with diverse prior experience is not a simple task. Claims for successful approaches include forms of differentiated teaching and paired programming. Competitions run by professional bodies and the software industry are often used to provide further external motivation. This paper presents the outcomes of a collaborative initiative across four universities which drew on aspects of both these approaches. Academics in the partner institutions had already implemented specific practice to accommodate the variety of student needs. The TOPS project was designed to involve and extend students through the processes of devising and competing in an inter-university challenge. Analysis of the outcomes has enabled the development of further understanding and good practice in this important area.

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More information

Published date: October 2006
Additional Information: Event Dates: October 11th-13th October 2007
Venue - Dates: 37th Annual ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education, Milwaukee, Wi, 2007-10-11 - 2007-10-13
Keywords: active learning, computer science education, paired programming, student motivation.
Organisations: Electronics & Computer Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 265019
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/265019
ISBN: 1-4244-1084-3/07
PURE UUID: 04b58826-7daf-4812-9e9d-2caf06ee8c70
ORCID for S A White: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9588-5275

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 31 Jan 2008 14:58
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:03

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Contributors

Author: S A White ORCID iD
Author: Janet Carter
Author: Stephan Jamieson
Author: Nick Efford
Author: Tony Jenkins

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