Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

7-16-2016

Keywords

Practice and Refactoring Log, education, computer programming

Abstract

The relationship between reflection and learning is evident. Reflection plays a significant role in learning by encouraging insight and complex learning. However, most students consider their work experiences at school as isolated and unrelated events. This work aims to investigate how to improve the students’ fluency in writing computer programs through reflection. A new deliverable, the Practice and Refactoring Log (“PAR Log”), is requested for each assignment in order to engage students in the process of making meaning from their experiences when completing their assignments. The PAR Log shows and justifies all changes through the assignment development cycle. Two student groups were required to develop and submit the PAR Log with all assignments, for credit. The performance of each group was compared to a similar group taught the same course by the same professor using the same assignments but without requesting the PAR Log. This paper presents the background, methodology, results, analysis and conclusion of this investigation.

Faculty

Faculty of Applied Science and Technology

School

School of Applied Computing

Journal

Paper Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Education, Teaching & Technology

Version

Publisher's version

Terms of Use

Terms of Use for Works posted in SOURCE.

Original Publication Citation

Dancy, E., & Mahmoud, E.S. (2016). Practice and refactoring log: A reflection based learning strategy to improve the fluency of computing students in writing computer programs. Paper Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Education, Teaching & Technology, 2016, 25 - 28.

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