Using the SOLO taxonomy to understand subgoal labels effect in CS1

Adrienne Decker, Lauren E. Margulieux, Briana B. Morrison

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work extends previous research on subgoal labeled instructions by examining their effect across a semester-long, Java-based CS1 course. Across four quizzes, students were asked to explain in plain English the process that they would use to solve a programming problem. In this mixed methods study, we used the SOLO taxonomy to categorize student responses about problem-solving processes and compare students who learned with subgoal labels to those who did not. The use of the SOLO taxonomy classification allows us to look deeper than the mere correctness of answers to focus on the quality of the answers produced in terms of completeness of relevant concepts and explanation of relationships among concepts. Students who learned with subgoals produced higher-rated answers in terms of complexity and quality on three of four quizzes. Also, they were three times more likely to discuss issues of data type on a question about assignments and expressions than students who did not learn with subgoal labeling. This suggests that the use of subgoal labeling enabled students to gain a deeper and more complex understanding of the material presented in the course.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationICER 2019 - Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
Pages209-217
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781450361859
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 30 2019
Event15th Annual International Computing Education Research Conference, ICER 2019 - Toronto, Canada
Duration: Aug 12 2019Aug 14 2019

Publication series

NameICER 2019 - Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research

Conference

Conference15th Annual International Computing Education Research Conference, ICER 2019
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityToronto
Period8/12/198/14/19

Keywords

  • CS1
  • Introductory programming
  • SOLO taxonomy
  • Subgoal labeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computational Theory and Mathematics
  • Education
  • Theoretical Computer Science

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