Blogs (19) >>
Fri 17 Mar 2023 16:10 - 16:35 at 701A - Student Success in CS2 Chair(s): Swapneel Sheth

Previous work has reported on the advantageous effects of prior experience in CS1, but it remains unclear whether these effects fade over a sequence of introductory programming courses. Furthermore, while student perceptions suggest that prior experience remains important, studies have reported that a student’s expectation of their performance is a more accurate predictor of outcome. We aim to confirm if prior experience (formal or informal) provides both short-term and long-term advantages in computing courses or if the advantage fades. Furthermore, we explore whether the expectation of performance is a more accurate predictor of student success than both informal and formal prior experience. To explore these questions, we deployed surveys in a CS1 course to gauge students’ level of prior experience in programming, prediction of final exam grades, and self-efficacy to succeed in university. Grades from CS1 and CS2 were also collected. We observed a persistent (1-letter grade) gap between the performance of students with no prior experience and those with any experience, but we did not observe a noteworthy gap when comparing student performance based on formal or informal experience. We also observed differences in self-efficacy and retention rates between different levels of prior experience. Last but not least, we confirm that success in CS1 can be better reflected and predicted by some controllable factors such as students’ perceptions of ability.

Fri 17 Mar

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15:45 - 17:00
Student Success in CS2Papers at 701A
Chair(s): Swapneel Sheth University of Pennsylvania
15:45
25m
Paper
Implementation and Evaluation of Technical Interview Preparation Activities in a Data Structures and Algorithms CourseIn-Person
Papers
Amanpreet Kapoor University of Florida, USA, Sajani Panchal University of Florida, Christina Gardner-McCune Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
DOI
16:10
25m
Paper
Prior Programming Experience: A Persistent Performance Gap in CS1 and CS2In-PersonGlobal
Papers
Giang Bui University of Toronto Mississauga, Naaz Sibia University of Toronto Mississauga, Angela Zavaleta Bernuy University of Toronto, Michael Liut University of Toronto Mississauga, Andrew Petersen University of Toronto
DOI
16:35
25m
Paper
Replication and Expansion Study on Factors Influencing Student Performance in CS2In-Person
Papers
Margaret Ellis Virginia Tech, Sara Hooshangi Virginia Tech
DOI