This book provides an overview of how to approach computer science education research from a pragmatic perspective. It represents the diversity of traditions and approaches inherent in this interdisciplinary area, while also providing a structure within which to make sense of that diversity. It provides multiple 'entry points'- to literature, to methods, to topics Part One, 'The Field and the Endeavor', frames the nature and conduct of research in computer science education. Part Two, 'Perspectives and Approaches', provides a number of grounded chapters on particular topics or themes, written by experts in each domain. These chapters cover the following topics:* design* novice misconceptions* programming environments for novices* algorithm visualisation* a schema theory view on learning to program* critical theory as a theoretical approach to computer science education researchJuxtaposed and taken together, these chapters indicate just how varied the perspectives and research approaches can be. These chapters, too, act as entry points, with illustrations drawn from published work.
Author(s): Sally Fincher
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 239
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 8
Part One: the field and the endeavor: Sally Fincher and Marian Petre......Page 10
1 Mapping the Territory......Page 12
2 A Preface to Pragmatics......Page 20
3 Pose Significant Questions that Can Be Answered Empirically......Page 30
4 Link Research to Relevant Theory......Page 42
5 Provide a Coherent and Explicit Chain of Reasoning......Page 50
6 Use Methods that Permit Direct Investigation of the Question......Page 54
7 Replicate and Generalize Across Studies......Page 72
8 Disclose Research to Encourage Professional Scrutiny and Critique......Page 86
Part Two: perspectives and approaches......Page 94
Introduction......Page 96
1 Misconceptions and Attitudes that Interfere with Learning to Program......Page 98
2 Critical Enquiry in Computer Science Education......Page 114
3 Programming Environments for Novices......Page 140
4 Research on Learning to Design Software......Page 168
5 Learning to Program: Schema Creation, Application, and Evaluation......Page 188
6 Algorithm Visualization......Page 212
List of Contributors......Page 242
Index......Page 244
