Using Alice Software with the Expository Method: A Pilot Study
Joana Martinho Costa · International Journal of Engineering and Technology · 2018
This article presents a learning environment design that compares the effectiveness of using Alice software with conventional programming languages in the scope of initial programming learning.The model proposes a quasi-experimental design in three stages: i) a pre-test to assess the development of logical reasoning in experimental (n=11) and control (n=11) groups; ii) learning programming with the Alice software and pseudocode or exclusively with pseudocode, in the experimental and control group respectively, both using a expository teaching methodology; iii) applying a validated programming test to assess student knowledge, mediated by logical reasoning in both groups.The pilot study indicated no significant differences in the programming test between experimental and control groups (p > 0.05).These results indicate that the effectiveness of the Alice software in programming knowledge might not work with the expository method.Keyword-Alice software, learning environment, programming learning, pseudocode, teaching method I. INTRODUCTION Teaching programming has been studied in the last decades in search for solutions that mitigate the difficulties in the student learning process.Research indicates that the main constraints to learning are the student lack of interest and mathematical knowledge, the syntactical complexity of first programming language that is taught, and the teaching methods, not always the most appropriate [1] [2].In order to overcome these difficulties, one solution suggested by the research focuses on the use of microworlds [3]: programming environments that allow the user to move virtual objects using commands [4].In this context, the Alice software stands out: a three-dimensional microworld created specifically to develop computational and logical reasoning and learn the fundamental principles of programming [5].Although many studies use Alice software and present promising results, a meta-analytical study conducted by Costa and Miranda [6] concluded that the research designs and the instruments used vary widely among studies, which weakens the analysis of the results.The authors also question whether results might be related with the teaching methodologies used, as none of the studies focused on this variable.Hattie's [7] work states that teaching strategies have an impact with an effect size of 0.60, but audio-visual or visual teaching methods only have an effect size of 0.22.Additionally, Garlick and Cankaya [8] used Alice in their experimental work and obtained no significant changes in the experimental group.These authors also did not isolate teaching methodology, which leads to the question of whether there is a relation between the academic success, the teaching methodology and the chosen programming language to teach initial programming.In this article, we propose the creation and validation of an initial programming learning environment designed to be implemented in a Portuguese high school, but which can be adapted to different means and countries with a similar curriculum in programming.The implementation of this learning environment can further our understanding of whether the use of the Alice software with pseudocode is more effective in initial programming learning than an approach that exclusively uses pseudocode, and whether the development of logical reasoning influences this relation.The use of pseudocode as an initial approach mirrors the programming student curriculum, on which the experimental work will focus [9].This design should also allow us to understand whether positive development of logical reasoning is related with the best programming results, regardless of the programming language.When operational, for a given teaching method and stage of logical reasoning, students using the Alice software with pseudocode to learn the structural concepts of programming will perform better in the programming knowledge test than students who only used pseudocode to learn the same concepts.After the experimental work, one need understand the evidence about the effectiveness of the Alice software in initial programming learning while controlling the teaching methodology.This article follows Creswell's proposal [10] for the presentation of a research design with a quantitative methodology.