Browsing by Author "Bachu, Eshwar"

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    COPS Collaborative online problem solving
    (2013-04-15) Bachu, Eshwar
    COPS (Collaborative Online Problem Solving) is an online multiplayer game which was developed using a computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) game based model. COPS aims to improve the problem solving skill of novice programmers by requiring them to collaboratively build program flowcharts. This paper presents the results and challenges of an experiment conducted using secondary school students between the ages of 14 and 17 who are preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) information technology exam. Initial findings indicate students prefer COPS to paper based, traditional problem solving exercises and that students were encouraged to work through the assigned tasks to completion.
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    Learning computer programming through game playing
    (2012-10-03) Bachu, Eshwar; Bernard, Margaret
    In this paper we present an approach for teaching and learning Computer Programming through game playing. This activity is intended to complement traditional teaching of concepts. The focus is on building program comprehension rather than program generation. In playing the game, students improve their ability to read and understand a program written in a specific language and to follow the logic in a program. They build speed in comprehension, as is required in learning any language. To win the game, students have to play certain steps repeatedly, using different strategies, and with time constraints. This repetitiveness reinforces learning. Once they master the basic elements of a program, they will experience less frustration in coding solutions for more challenging problems. The preliminary results with students using this gaming activity are encouraging.
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    An Online Multiplayer Game for Collaborative Problem
    (2012-09-25) Bachu, Eshwar; Bernard, Margaret
    Teaching computer programming to novices has always posed a major challenge to educators, most novices acquire basic programming skills but they are unable to utilize them in a meaningful way to solve many of the non-routine problems which are presented to them. As a result, they do not achieve any level of programming fluency. Collaboration has been identified as a useful tool to help overcome this problem if utilized at the right times during the programming/problem solving process. This paper presents a review of computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) concepts, collaboration in programming and the problem solving domain. Finally, a design for a gaming application of CSCL (COPS) to help improve the problem solving ability of novice programmers is presented.