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Managing diversity in introductory programming classes

Using Logo as a diagnostic tool

John Poulton

North East Wales Institute

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Introduction to Programming The one module in our Level 1 curriculum that

the students have the most difficulty complain about the most consistently

a "weed out" class where only the highly successful will endure

a "make or break" course which discourages all but the best students

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Logo? Full-featured computer programming

language derived from LISP A language for learning A tool to teach the process of learning

and thinking An environment where students assume

the role of teacher

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Logo As a teacher, they must:

understand the knowledge to be taught plan an approach to impart this knowledge break the knowledge into small, understandable

chunks clearly communicate the knowledge Establish this new knowledge as the foundation for

future learning Be aware of and build on knowledge that the learner

already has Respond to the learner's (computer's)

misunderstandings and errors

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How did we use Logo As an introduction to the concept of

programming, and on the thinking processes that Logo encourages

To attempt to discover programming aptitude

Used during induction week 65 BSc , 37 HND students (2001/02) BSc 3 hrs + 1 hr test HND 4 hrs + 1 hr test

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How did we use Logo Developed tutorial and series of exercises Simple tasks which require fairly short

programming solutions Encouraged the use of various language

constructs Loops functions parameter passing

The tasks examined attention to detail, logical ability and capability at comprehending and following instructions

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Sequencesforward 50 right 90 forward 50right 90forward 50right 90forward 50right 90

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Iterationrepeat 4 [forward 50 right 90]

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Procedures to squarerepeat 4 [forward 50 right 90]end

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Procedures

You could draw a flag:

forward 60squareback 60

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Further Iteration You could make a circle of squares:

repeat 12[square right 30]

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Procedures to house

squareforward 50right 90triangle

end to triangle

repeat 3 [forward 50 left 120]end

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Passing Values into Proceduresto square :size

repeat 4 [forward :size right 90]end

square 10

square 20 etc

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Recursionto design

clearscreenright 30polyspi 5 120

end

to polyspi :size :angleif :size > 205 [stop]

forward :size right :anglepolyspi :size+5 :angle+.12

end

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Results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52

Logo

C

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Conclusions Logo

Useful diagnostic tool Useful tool for teaching programming Useful tool to observe how students think

Improved retention & progression? Helped But so did extra tutorial support

Future work develop materials further Introduce problem solving module utilising LOGO

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Logo sites MSWLogo is available free from

http://softronix.com Useful Site run by the Computer Supported

Didactics Working Group at the University of Vienna

http://www.eurologo.org/ Guido van Rossum's

Computer Programming For Everybody

http://www.python.org/doc/essays/cp4e.html