CFP last date
20 December 2024
Reseach Article

Causes of Failure of Students in Computer Programming Courses: The Teacher – Learner Perspective

by Kofi Adu-manu Sarpong, John Kingsley Arthur, Prince Yaw Owusu Amoako
International Journal of Computer Applications
Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Volume 77 - Number 12
Year of Publication: 2013
Authors: Kofi Adu-manu Sarpong, John Kingsley Arthur, Prince Yaw Owusu Amoako
10.5120/13448-1311

Kofi Adu-manu Sarpong, John Kingsley Arthur, Prince Yaw Owusu Amoako . Causes of Failure of Students in Computer Programming Courses: The Teacher – Learner Perspective. International Journal of Computer Applications. 77, 12 ( September 2013), 27-32. DOI=10.5120/13448-1311

@article{ 10.5120/13448-1311,
author = { Kofi Adu-manu Sarpong, John Kingsley Arthur, Prince Yaw Owusu Amoako },
title = { Causes of Failure of Students in Computer Programming Courses: The Teacher – Learner Perspective },
journal = { International Journal of Computer Applications },
issue_date = { September 2013 },
volume = { 77 },
number = { 12 },
month = { September },
year = { 2013 },
issn = { 0975-8887 },
pages = { 27-32 },
numpages = {9},
url = { https://ijcaonline.org/archives/volume77/number12/13448-1311/ },
doi = { 10.5120/13448-1311 },
publisher = {Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA},
address = {New York, USA}
}
%0 Journal Article
%1 2024-02-06T21:48:59.876174+05:30
%A Kofi Adu-manu Sarpong
%A John Kingsley Arthur
%A Prince Yaw Owusu Amoako
%T Causes of Failure of Students in Computer Programming Courses: The Teacher – Learner Perspective
%J International Journal of Computer Applications
%@ 0975-8887
%V 77
%N 12
%P 27-32
%D 2013
%I Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Abstract

There are many factors that influence the high rate of failure of students in computer programming courses. This paper focuses on the teaching methodologies and strategies that are implemented in teaching programming courses. This is a major factor for consideration; hence an investigation into the causes of failure of students in programming courses from the learner perspective with regard to the teaching methodology used by teachers to teach these courses is relevant. Programming courses form part of the core concentration areas for students especially studying Information Technology (IT) and Computer Science (CS) as an undergraduate degree program. Programming students are expected to demonstrate competencies in the principles of programming and logic that are being taught in the course; even though some of these concepts are highly abstract and complex. Their opinions to the usefulness of the teaching methods being implemented in programming courses were sought for. The needs and concerns about the teaching methods are highlighted in the survey and discussed thereby leading to the making of suggestions about the ways to improve the teaching methods that are used in computer programming courses in order to improve understanding of programming, when studied by students thereby minimizing failure rates.

References
  1. Kirsti Ala-Mutka, "Problems in learning and teaching programming," a literature study for developing visualizations in the Codewitz-Minerva project,pp. 1 – 13, (n. d)
  2. M. N. ISMAIL, N. A. NGAH and I. N. UMAR, "Instructional strategy in the teaching of computer programming: a need assessment analyses," TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, volume 9 Issue 2, pp. 569–571, April 2010.
  3. S. Mohorovicic and V. Strcic, "An Overview of Computer Programming Teaching Methods," pp. 1 – 6, (n. d).
  4. M. Butler and M. Morgan, "Learning challenges faced by novice programming students studying high level and low feedback concepts," Proceedings ascilite Singapore, pp. 99 – 107, 2007.
  5. T. Jenkins, "On the Difficulty of Learning to Program," Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Conference of the LTSN Centre for Information and Computer Sciences, Lough- borough, UK, pp. 53-58, 2002.
  6. Wiedenbeck S, LaBelle D, Kain V N R, "Factors Affecting Course Outcomes in Introductory Programming," Proceedings of the 16th Workshop on Psychology of Programming, pp. 97-109, 2004.
  7. D. Nandigam and H. Bathula, "Competing Dichotomies in Teaching Computer Programming to Beginner-Students," pp. 1- 9, December 2011.
  8. Goodlad, S. and Hirst, B. , "Peer tutoring: a guide to learning by teaching" London: Kogan, 1989.
  9. Hu Xiaohui, "Improving teaching in Computer Programming by adopting student-centred learning strategies", The China Papers, pp. 47 – 48, November 2006.
  10. (2013) The Flinders website. [Online]. Available: http://ehlt. flinders. edu. au/education/DLiT/2004/13DLT/ExplicitTeach. htm
  11. Sanja Mohorovi?i? and Vedran Str?i?, "An Overview of Computer Programming Teaching Methods," pg. 1 -6, n. d.
  12. (2013) The Mathbits website. [Online]. Available: http://mathbits. com/MathBits/CompSci/Strategies. htm
  13. Clancy, M. , Titteron, N. , Ryan, C. , Slotta, J. , & Linn, M. , "New roles for students, instructors, and computers in a lab-based introductory programming course. " Proceedings of the 34th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, pp. 132-136, 2003.
  14. Iwona Miliszewska and Grace Tan. (2007). "Befriending Computer Programming: A Proposed Approach to Teaching Introductory Programming. ", Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology Volume 4, pp. 277 – 287
Index Terms

Computer Science
Information Sciences

Keywords

Computer programming teaching methodology minimizing failure programming logic