Eliciting mental models : Students of different learning styles learning to program

Eliciting mental models : Students of different learning styles learning to program

Research studies in education. Volume 4, The ninth postgraduate research conference, 2006, Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong

• Lau, Wing Fat Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong

• Huang, Jing Centre for Applied English Studies, University of Hong Kong
• Gu, Mingyue
• Cheung, Eleanor Pui Kei

Hong Kong

Office of Research, Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong

2006

Postgraduate Research Conference (2006: Hong Kong, China)

• C Psychology & Learning
  • CB Psychology of Learning
• G Curriculum, Teaching & Learning: Specific Disciplines
  • GD Science & Technology

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Secondary Education

Computer programming has been taught in secondary schools in Hong Kong since the 1980s. However, learning to program poses a lot of difficulties to novices. This study aims to investigate the mental model of individuals of various learning styles in learning to program. Forty-one secondary students participated in a pilot study. No difference in mental models was found among the different groups. There was some evidence that learning style predicted mental model. Concrete learners had higher similarity than abstract learners. Students' understanding of programming knowledge was only rudimentary. Sequential learners in general outperformed their random counterparts. AR learners were students particularly at risk in learning programming. A number of pedagogical recommendations are made and limitations of the study are discussed.

• English

Conference Papers

• 9789628093472
• 9628093479

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/bb61aa24

2011-05-27