The impact of Memory Transfer Language (MTL) on reducing misconceptions in teaching programming to novices
The impact of Memory Transfer Language (MTL) on reducing misconceptions in teaching programming to novices
复制标题
内存传输语言 (MTL) 对减少新手编程教学中的误解的影响
DOI：
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发表时间：
2012
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
H. Twaakyondo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
L. Mselle;H. Twaakyondo
尽管编程是计算机科学的核心，但有人认为，即使在最简单的层面上，编程也是一门难以教授和学习的学科。对于任何新的学习者来说，编程概念都是抽象和令人困惑的。由于编程教学仍然是一项艰巨的任务，本文将回顾向初学者教授计算机编程时所固有的常见挑战。进一步介绍并论证了记忆转移语言（Memory Transfer Language， MTL）在编程教学中的应用。分析了编程中的各种误解及其相关的错误。本文利用两组学生的考试脚本中的错误计数，进行了一项使用MTL进行编程教学的实验，其中一组学生使用MTL进行教学，另一组学生使用常规方法进行教学。结果显示两组之间有高度显著的统计学差异（p = 0），表明MTL可以帮助新手避免常见的编程误解，减少他们犯的错误。这表明，如果使用MTL教授编程，理解能力会得到增强。
Despite the fact that programming is at the heart of computer science, it is argued that even at its simplest level it is a difficult subject to teach and learn. For any new learner programming concepts are abstract and confusing. As teaching programming continues to be a daunting task, this article revisits common challenges inherent in teaching computer programming to novices. Further, Memory Transfer Language (MTL) as used to teach programming is introduced and demonstrated. Different kinds of misconceptions in programming and their associated bugs are analysed. An experiment using MTL to teach programming was carried out, using error-counts in examination scripts from two groups of students, one instructed using MTL and the other through the conventional approach. Results indicated a highly significant statistical difference ( p = 0) between the two groups, showing that MTL can help novices avoid common programming misconceptions and reduce the errors they make. This shows that if programming is taught using MTL, comprehension is enhanced.