Abstract
This paper investigated the challenges presented by computer programming (sequential/traditional, concurrent and parallel) for novice programmers and developers. The researcher involved Higher Education in Computer Science students learning programming at multiple levels, as they could well represent beginning programmers, who would struggle in successfully achieving a running program due to the complexity of this theoretical process, which has no similar real-life representation. The paper explored the difficulties faced by students in understanding this challenging, yet fundamental, subject of all Computer Science/Computing degree programmes, and focused on the advantages of visualization techniques to facilitate the learning of computer programming, with recommendations on effective computer-based simulated platforms to achieve this visualization. The paper recommended the application of virtual world technologies, such as ‘Second Life’, to achieve the visualization required to facilitate the understanding and learning of computer programming. The paper demonstrated extensive evidence on the advantages of these technologies to achieve program visualization, and how they facilitated enhanced learning of the programming process. The paper also addressed the benefits of collaboration and experimentation, which are ideal for learning computer programming, and how these aspects are strongly supported in virtual worlds.
Highlights
There is significant research acknowledging the level of complexity in the computer programming subject generally and at the Higher Education (HE) level
This paper focuses on identifying the challenges faced by novice programmers and HE students in learning the different levels of computer programming, and provides recommendations on the techniques and platforms needed to overcome these challenges
This paper focuses on a different visualization technique, which involves the application of virtual world technologies to visualize complex theory concepts of computer programming in order to enhance students‟ understanding and learning of this subject at the HE level
Summary
There is significant research acknowledging the level of complexity in the computer programming subject generally and at the Higher Education (HE) level. Programming skills require in-depth understanding of the complex theoretical concepts within this subject, which are recognized to be difficult to grasp by learners due to lack of real-life representation. This paper focuses on identifying the challenges faced by novice programmers and HE students in learning the different levels of computer programming, and provides recommendations on the techniques and platforms needed to overcome these challenges. The paper explores the advantages of simulation, collaboration, interactivity and experimentation to support the process of learning computer programming. RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATIONISTS ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE STUDENTS TRYING TO LEARN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
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