Development of an unfolding model of procedures for programming learning of novice programmers

Abstract

This study reduces the difficulties experienced by novice computer programmers when establishing a procedure for problem-solving in a computing environment. It also provides guidelines to detail the work process. For this purpose, we developed an "unfolding model of procedures" consisting of the recognition of input and output, decomposition of operation, and expansion of branching based on its condition in work. To identify the effect of applying the unfolding model of procedures on the programming learning curve, we conducted an experiment with 110 college freshers randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The unfolding model was applied to the experimental group; however, both groups received introductory programming classes for 5 weeks. The experimental group showed a trend of significant improvement in deriving the input and output processes and expanded their judgment on conditions. The evaluation of flowcharts for the same task conveyed that the experimental group was more competent than the control group, and further analysis by sex revealed no difference between the sexes in the achievement of learning within either group. The experimental group showed an advantage over the control group irrespective of sex. In conclusion, we expect that the unfolding model of procedures developed in this study could be used as a tool for novice programmers to derive work procedures completely and systematically when interpreting human work in a computing environment at the early stages of learning to program.