On Mon, Sep 16, 2002 at 12:47:32PM +0000, Derek M Jones wrote: > Edna, > > >In relation to my earlier e-mail...I am interested in novice > >programming research, in particular I am interested in developing > >language-independent techniques > > Given the current state of knowledge I think attempting to be > language independent is much too ambitious. I disagree. If I recall correctly from Enda's talk at PPIG, the aim was to produce language-independent analogies and examples to aid understanding. There are plenty of these for more abstract concepts like iteration, or pointers, that are real world analogies (like using house numbers to illustrate pointers "You have the number of the house, but you have to actually go to that number before you can get into the house..."). These don't require language-specificity.
> > which will aid students' > >understanding of the basic programming concepts of > > > >i/o, variables, data types, seqence selection iteration, subroutines etc > > What is needed is a database of common developer misconceptions. > As the following paper points out, without this information it is not > possible to train teaches to recognise problems and correct them. Sure, this would also be useful, but it does not obviate the need for techniques such as the ones Enda is planning to look at. Recognising problems and correcting them seems to me to be a step further on from teaching basic programming concepts by analogy. > Lets be honest here, a major problem with undergraduate learning > of programming is the complete lack of teaching expertise on the part of > the lecturers. Edna's talk at the conference was an excellent example > of what good teachers should do. This is one of the problems, but there are many. :) My own PhD research shows a number of others. Maybe we can't make every introductory programming teacher effective, but that doesn't mean there's no point in developing ever-better techniques. -- Dr Linda McIver Monash University Lecturer ph: +61 3 9905 5210 Computer Science and Software Engineering fx: +61 3 9905 5146 -- "The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way." William Blake 1799 - Automatic footer for [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe discuss To join the announcements list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe announce To receive a help file, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] help This list is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40ppig.org/ If you have any problems or questions, please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
