Student-generated active-learning exercises

Active-learning exercises are an effective use of class time to bring about desired learning outcomes. Instead of listening to a lecture, students are engaged in tasks that allow them to discover new knowledge, or apply what they have just learned. A barrier to wide usage of active-learning exercises is the need to design them, since few are available in textbooks, technical papers, or on the Web. The work reported in this paper demonstrates that students can design active-learning exercises that are worthy of being used in CS1 and CS2. This frees the instructor from having to write all the exercises him/herself. This paper makes three contributions: a methodology for creating student-generated active-learning exercises, several exercises for teaching difficult concepts in CS1 and CS2, and guidance about the kinds of active-learning exercises that students will enjoy and learn most from.

[1]  Donald D. Chinn,et al.  Treisman workshops and student performance in CS , 2007, SIGCSE '07.

[2]  Mohamed Hamada,et al.  Web-based tools for active learning in information theory , 2007, SIGCSE.

[3]  Keith J. Whittington,et al.  cooperative learning: beyond pair programming and team projects , 2006, SIGCSE '06.

[4]  Dino Schweitzer,et al.  Designing interactive visualization tools for the graphics classroom , 1992, SIGCSE '92.

[5]  Jeffrey J. McConnell.  Active and cooperative learning: further tips and tricks (part 3) , 2006, SGCS.

[6]  Brian Winn,et al.  Resolving Conflicts in Educational Game Design through Playtesting , 2006 .

[7]  Edward F. Gehringer,et al.  Reusable Learning Objects Thr ough Peer Review: The E xpertiza Approach , 2007 .

[8]  Leland L. Beck,et al.  Cooperative learning techniques in CS1: design and experimental evaluation , 2005, SIGCSE '05.

[9]  David W. Johnson,et al.  Cooperation and Competition: Theory and Research , 1989 .

[10]  Shannon Pollard,et al.  Everything I needed to know about teaching I learned in kindergarten: bringing elementary education techniques to undergraduate computer science classes , 2006, SIGCSE '06.

[11]  Jeffrey J. McConnell.  Active and cooperative learning: final tips and tricks (part IV) , 2006, ACM SIGCSE Bull..

[12]  Kung-Kiu Lau.  Active learning sheets for a beginner's course on reasoning about imperative programs , 2007, SIGCSE '07.

[13]  Richard J. Anderson,et al.  Supporting active learning and example based instruction with classroom technology , 2007, SIGCSE '07.

[14]  Jeffrey J. McConnell,et al.  Active and cooperative learning: tips and tricks (part I) , 2005, SGCS.

[15]  Stephen H. Edwards,et al.  Experiences using test-driven development with an automated grader , 2007 .

[16]  Jeffrey J. McConnell.  Active and cooperative learning: final tips and tricks (part IV) , 2006, ITiCSE-WGR '06.

[17]  Daniel D. Garcia,et al.  Kinesthetic learning in the classroom , 2004, SIGCSE '04.

[18]  David W. Johnson,et al.  Effects of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic goal structures on achievement: A meta-analysis. , 1981 .

[19]  Jeffrey J. McConnell.  Active and cooperative learning: more tips and tricks (part II) , 2005, SGCS.