Perception of learning in programming lectures based on mental models

Abstract

The understanding of the human mind and its ability to learn are objects of research in Cognitive Science. The way a person learns is unique, the result of her previous experiences and the development of her mental model. The understanding of how the students produce their mental models can favor the learning of several disciplines, as evidenced in several papers. In this context, this work investigates the combination of mental models used by students within the lecture of Programming in technical education classes. The analysis was based on a test that identifies strengths and weaknesses in the structuring of mental models.