Blogs (19) >>
Thu 16 Mar 2023 10:45 - 11:10 at 701B - CS0/CS1 Skills, Confidence, and Languages Chair(s): Ildar Akhmetov

Previous research in computing education has been devoted to improving the experience of non-CS majors in introductory CS courses. In this study, we compare the experiences of non-CS majors in two different introductory computing courses, specifically with respect to fears about taking the course and change in confidence levels between the start and end of the course. CS0 is a computing course intentionally designed for non-majors, and CS1 is a more traditional introductory computing course. Both of these courses were composed primarily of non-majors and were taught by the same instructor. Survey data was collected from 124 students enrolled in CS0, and 502 students enrolled in CS1. Through qualitative analysis, we found that the fears of non-major students entering both of the introductory CS courses fell into one or more of nine distinct categories (e.g., Coding, Perceiving STEM as Difficult, Managing Workload). Additionally, using students’ confidence levels at the beginning and end of the courses, we found that students in CS0 had a greater increase in confidence level than those in CS1. Finally, we explored possible connections between students’ fears and how their confidence changed by the end of the course. We found that students across both courses with fears related to coding, lack of preparation, and being left behind had the highest average increase in confidence levels.

Thu 16 Mar

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10:45 - 12:00
CS0/CS1 Skills, Confidence, and LanguagesPapers at 701B
Chair(s): Ildar Akhmetov University of Alberta
10:45
25m
Paper
CS0 vs. CS1: Understanding Fears and Confidence amongst Non-majors in Introductory CS CoursesCCIn-Person
Papers
Emma Hogan University of California, San Diego, Ruoxuan Li University of California, San Diego, Adalbert Gerald Soosai Raj University of California, San Diego
DOI
11:10
25m
Paper
Visual vs. Textual Programming Languages in CS0.5: Comparing Student Learning with and Student Perception of RAPTOR and PythonCCIn-Person
Papers
Joel Coffman United States Air Force Academy, Adrian de Freitas USAF Academy, Justin Hill United States Air Force Academy, Troy Weingart United Stated Air Force Academy Dept of Computer Science
DOI
11:35
25m
Paper
Validation of the Placement Skill Inventory: A CS0/CS1 Placement ExamCCIn-Person
Papers
Ryan Bockmon Univeristy of Nebraska - Lincoln, Chris Bourke University of Nebraska-Lincoln
DOI