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All Outputs (3)

Motivation, optimal experience and flow in first year computing science. (2016)
Conference Proceeding
MCDERMOTT, R., ZARB, M., DANIELS, M., CAJANDER, Å. and CLEAR, T. 2016. Motivation, optimal experience and flow in first year computing science. In Proceedings of the 2016 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) conference on innovation and technology in computer science education (ITiCSE '16), 9-13 July 2016, Arequipa, Peru. New York: ACM [online], pages 206-211. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1145/2899415.2899474

We examine the concept of motivation from the perspective of Self Determination Theory and give a brief overview of relevant results. We also consider the optimal state known as Flow and give an account of its conceptualisation in the theory due to C... Read More about Motivation, optimal experience and flow in first year computing science..

Student concerns regarding transition into higher education CS. (2016)
Conference Proceeding
SIEGEL, A.A. and ZARB, M. 2016. Student concerns regarding transition into higher education CS. In Proceedings of the 21st Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Innovation and technology in computer science education 2016 conference (ITiCSE 2016), 11-13 July 2016, Arequipa, Peru. New York: ACM [online], pages 23-28. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1145/2899415.2909581

This paper discusses a study where 249 students from 18 secondary schools around Scotland who were on the verge of applying to study Computing Science at a higher education institution were surveyed on their concerns about the upcoming transition. Pr... Read More about Student concerns regarding transition into higher education CS..

Novice programmers and the problem description effect. (2016)
Conference Proceeding
BOUVIER, D., LOVELLETTE, E., MATTA, J., ALSHAIGY, B., BECKER, B.A., CRAIG, M., JACKOVA, J., MCCARTNEY, R., SANDERS, K. and ZARB, M. 2016. Novice programmers and the problem description effect. In Proceedings of the Innovation and technology in computer science education on working group reports 2016 (ITiCSE-WGR '16), 9-13 July 2016, Arequipa, Peru. New York: ACM [online], pages 103-118. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1145/3024906.3024912

It is often debated whether a problem presented in a straightforward minimalist fashion is better, or worse, for learning than the same problem presented with a real-life or concrete context. The presentation, contextualization, or problem descriptio... Read More about Novice programmers and the problem description effect..