TOPS - Collaboration and competition to stretch our most able programming novices

Abstract

Finding effective means of meeting students' varied needs during introductory programming classes is a perpetual challenge. Maintaining motivation and a sufficient level of engagement across an undergraduate group with diverse prior experience is not a simple task. Claims for successful approaches include forms of differentiated teaching and paired programming. Competitions run by professional bodies and the software industry are often used to provide further external motivation. This paper presents the outcomes of a collaborative initiative across four universities which drew on aspects of both these approaches. Academics in the partner institutions had already implemented specific practice to accommodate the variety of student needs. The TOPS project was designed to involve and extend students through the processes of devising and competing in an inter-university challenge. Analysis of the outcomes has enabled the development of further understanding and good practice in this important area.

Practice Sharing Paper: Motivating Computer Scientists to Engage with Professional Issues: A Technology-Led Approach

“…The design activities have been led by two experienced academics. Together they have a broad experience of curriculum design and redesign, educational enhancement and innovation of student learning activities [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

Contribución a la Aplicación de Técnicas de Inteligencia Artificial para el diseño efectivo de Sistemas Adaptativos de Aprendizaje Competitivo

“…(Striegel y Rover 2002) aplican una estrategia colaborativa y competitiva para el aprendizaje de programación y encuentran los siguientes aspectos positivos en el uso de la competición: aumento del espíritu de equipo, protección de la propiedad intelectual (entre los equipos), importante interacción entre el profesor y los estudiantes, y mejores notas en las soluciones a los problemas. Otro ejemplo de uso de la competición para el aprendizaje de programación es el proyecto TOPS descrito en (White et al 2007). Cuatro universidades participan en este proyecto organizando un concurso en el que los mejores estudiantes compiten resolviendo problemas de programación en equipos.…”