ERIC Number: EJ820987
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0899-3408
EISSN: N/A
The Effect of Incorporating Cooperative Learning Principles in Pair Programming for Student Teachers
Mentz, E.; van der Walt, J. L.; Goosen, L.
Computer Science Education, v18 n4 p247-260 Dec 2008
Based on their quantitative and qualitative investigations, the authors conclude that pair programming as a strategy for teaching student teachers could be made more effective through the incorporation of principles associated with cooperative learning. They substantiate this claim by referring to a literature study about the advantages and disadvantages of pair programming as a teaching-learning strategy, by then discussing five principles of cooperative learning, and by presenting the findings of their empirical study. Second year student teachers taking a Delphi programming module participated in an experiment conducted over a two year period. In 2005, the participants did computer programming in pairs without the application of principles associated with cooperative learning. In 2006, a similar group of participants also programmed in pairs, but in their case, certain principles associated with cooperative learning were incorporated in the strategy followed by the facilitator. According to a comparison of the module examination marks, the 2006 group outperformed the 2005 group. This finding was confirmed by qualitative investigations. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Learning Strategies, Cooperative Learning, Programming, Teaching Methods, Computer Science Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Educational Principles, Units of Study, Scores, Foreign Countries, Instructional Effectiveness, Secondary School Teachers, Teacher Education Curriculum
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A