An application-based learning approach to introductory C programming language courses

参与机构：马里兰州大学园区项目描述电气或计算机工程及相关领域的大学生必须克服的第一个障碍之一是大一编程课。面向工程师的入门编程课程通常仍然以传统的方式教授，包括大型课堂讲座和实验室课程，学生在这些课程中完成纯软件编程作业。讲座和作业往往会模糊编程如何嵌入到更广泛的设计问题中。因此，许多学生认为计算机入门课程与设计和解决问题无关。因此，许多学生失去了对他们的专业的热情。该项目是开发一个项目驱动的程序设计课程，为一年级的电气工程（EE）专业。本课程不假设以前的编程或工程知识。学生在集成开发环境（IDE）中设计C程序，用于利用各种电子传感器和执行器的微处理器应用。除了教授在更高级的编程课程中取得成功所需的语言的语法和语义外，该课程还让学生了解可编程设备在技术系统和应用中的作用。更广泛的意义该项目的重点是早期工程教育的一个重要方面，寻求改善教学和学习入门编程。这些应用程序将为学习编程提供丰富的背景，此外还将介绍EE专业中常用的组件和技术。在新生阶段向学生介绍与工程相关的编程项目也可能对保留产生积极影响。该项目解决了一个全国性的问题，通过基础研究和课程开发的相互交织，改善工程师的计算机教育。正在进行的评估将有助于为正在考虑修改入门级编程课程的其他教育工作者提供信息。通过跟踪学生进入后续的编程课程，该团队正在评估新课程的长期影响。与新类并行运行的当前计算类的存在允许项目更严格地研究新方法的效果。

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION: University of Maryland College ParkPROJECT DESCRIPTION One of the first hurdles that college students majoring in electrical or computer engineering and related fields must overcome is a freshman programming class. Introductory programming courses for engineers are still typically taught in a traditional manner, with large classroom lectures and laboratory sessions where students implement software-only programming assignments. Lectures and assignments can too often obscure how programming can be embedded in a broader design problem. Therefore, introductory computing courses are perceived by many students as disconnected from issues of design and problem solving. As a result, many students lose enthusiasm toward their intended profession.The project is developing a project-driven programming course for first-year electrical engineering (EE) majors. The course assumes no previous programming or engineering knowledge. Students design C-programs in an integrated development environment (IDE) for microprocessor applications utilizing a variety of electronic sensors and actuators. In addition to teaching the syntax and semantics of a language necessary to be successful in more advanced programming classes, the course gives students an appreciation for the enabling role of programmable devices in technological systems and applications. BROADER SIGNIFICANCE The project is focused on an important aspect of early engineering education by seeking to improve the teaching and learning of introductory programming. The applications will provide a rich context for learning to program, additionally serving as an introduction to components and techniques that are commonly utilized in the EE profession. Introducing students to engineering-relevant programming projects at the freshman level is also likely to have a positive effect on retention. The project tackles a national issue, improving computing education for engineers, with interwoven strands of basic research and curriculum development.The evaluation being conducted will help inform other educators that are considering revisions to entry-level programming courses. By following students into subsequent programming classes, the team is evaluating the longer-term effects of the new course. The existence of the current computing class running in parallel with the new class allows the project to more rigorously study the effects of the new approach.