2003 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Eilish Scott & Averil Meehan
Teaching activities in a programmed world

Key to Graph
A Analogies; B Learning by example; C Active learning; D Brainstorming; E Collaborative learning; F Case studies

Object Oriented Programming Languages such as Java and C++ have become very popular over the last 15 years. As part of an ongoing MSc at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT), research is being undertaken into the problems of teaching programming and, in particular, Object Oriented Programming.

The skill of learning how to program requires knowledge in various areas - including problem solving, language syntax and compilation techniques, debugging and testing a program. When learning a programming language, it is important to focus on the idea rather than the language syntax itself. Therefore, design is a very important concept: before coding a system, students should firstly develop an algorithm and then transfer that algorithm into code.

A number of teaching methods (i.e. analogies, learning by example, active learning, collaborative learning and brainstorming) may be used when teaching programming. In conjunction with the research, a survey is being carried out to determine exactly what teaching methods are most frequently utilised. The particular teaching methods used can shape how a student learns a programming language and how this language is utilised by the student.

Preliminary results suggest that learning by example is the most popular method used by 60% of lecturers. Active learning is the second most important method utilised, with analogies in third place.

Contact: Eilish Scott & Dr Averil Meehan, Computing Department, Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT);
Eilish Scott Mobile: 00353 86 1039235; Fax: 00353 74 9164107;
E-Mail: [email protected]