To read or to rotate? comparing the effects of technical reading training and spatial skills training on novice programming ability
Madeline Endres, Madison Fansher, Priti Shah, Westley Weimer
Abstract
Understanding how to best support and train novice programmers is a critical component of producing better and more diverse software engineers. In this paper, we present the results of a controlled 11-week longitudinal study with 57 CS1 students comparing two skill-based interventions to improve programming performance. The first intervention involves spatial training, an established baseline known to be helpful in engineering contexts. The second intervention is a novel CS-focused technical reading training.
Topics & Concepts
Computer scienceReading (process)Training (meteorology)Intervention (counseling)Baseline (sea)Component (thermodynamics)Psychological interventionSoftwareSoftware engineeringMultimediaHuman–computer interactionPsychologyProgramming languageMeteorologyPhysicsLawPsychiatryPolitical scienceThermodynamicsGeologyOceanographyTeaching and Learning ProgrammingInnovative Teaching and Learning MethodsEducational Games and Gamification