Research Article
Early Training in Programming: From High School to College
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-319-61949-1_34, author={Ugo Solitro and Margherita Zorzi and Margherita Pasini and Margherita Brondino}, title={Early Training in Programming: From High School to College}, proceedings={Smart Objects and Technologies for Social Good. Second International Conference, GOODTECHS 2016, Venice, Italy, November 30 -- December 1, 2016, Proceedings}, proceedings_a={GOODTECHS}, year={2017}, month={7}, keywords={Computational thinking Programming Coding Extreme apprenticeship Motivation}, doi={10.1007/978-3-319-61949-1_34} }- Ugo Solitro
Margherita Zorzi
Margherita Pasini
Margherita Brondino
Year: 2017
Early Training in Programming: From High School to College
GOODTECHS
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-61949-1_34
Abstract
Informatics is recognized as a fundamental discipline in education at all levels. It is also an indispensable subject for scientific and technical studies. Some abilities connected to informatics learning has being considered to provide “fundamental skills for everyone”. Programming or, more generally, the ability of solving problems by algorithmic methods is one of these skills. In Italy, many scientific degree courses offer, at the first year, at least an introductory course in programming. Digital expertize and a basic attitude to computational thinking are in general expected. The present study, has been conducted at the University of Verona, in the context of the course of Applied Mathematics curriculum. We focus on first period of lessons, when the fundamentals of programming are introduced. Most of the students come from secondary schools, in particular , a secondary school with emphasis science or humanities, and where the role of informatics is in general not central. So, an academic course in programming can be a difficult task for students. In this paper, we analyze how the background influences the learning of programming and the performance of students.