Introductory Programming and Word Problems
Jozef Hvorecky
ivo@euba.sk (not direct email address)
Dept. of Mathematics
University of Papua New Guinea Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea
Abstract
Teaching introductory programming courses in developing countries has its specifics. It must reflect a different structure of their ducational system, the lack of resources (teachers, textbooks, classrooms, etc.), and a shorter tradition of education itself.
Particularly, our students have many difficulties with doing good programming abstractions. Their thinking and reasoning is very concrete, the students can not formulate algorithms (designs of their programs). As a result, their programs are "random sequences of instructions" rather than "computerized solutions of problems". That's why I have tried to shape a methodology, which could show them the consecutive development of programs - starting with verbal formulation of the problems.
In the paper the milestones of the methodology are presented: First, our problems are formulated as word problems. Each problem exploits the student's previous knowledge and experience and activates his/her creativity. Then, we want students to describe algorithms - we only ask for their verbal (but written) design. The correctness of the designs is verified. If the solution is correct, it is expressed in a programming language.
Another important aspect of our methodology is that all new notions, concepts, and programming techniques are introduced in the "bottom-up" manner. The students can "reinvent" and use them before the notion is formally defined. In such a way, they can easier understand its meaning and observe the most frequent ways of its usage.
Morever, we try to solve every problem using several different ways and do encourage students to do the same with their assignments. Then, we discuss their advantages and disadvantages. We see such critical analysis as a necessary background for their future professional career.
Thus, the approach could be described as "from word problems to (validated) computer programs". In our presentation some of those problems and their solutions will be demonstrated.
© Asian Technology Conference in Mathematics, 1998. |
