Problem Solving Variations in an Online Programming Course

Abstract

An observation on teaching introductory programming courses on SLN for a period of two terms led me to believe that online students try various ways to solve a problem. In the beginning, I got the impression that some of their approaches for a solution were wrong; but after a little investigation, I found that some of the problem-solving approaches were correct but difficult to understand and not straightforward. However, some of the solutions were interesting, challenging, and unique. Three problem sets will be discussed which were given from the textbook in modules 2 and 3 of the term. The problems were to compute salary with overtime, compute total average mileage per gallon, and parking charge fee. As an instructor who has taught introductory programming for more than two decades, I found several variations in solving a problem, even in a small simple program like a compute salary program. One speculation would be that students use trial and error and use their own logic to get the correct output, despite not using a common approach. It seems that students in face-to-face classes focus on the information from the instructor and disseminate ideas among each other.