Abstract
Programming tutorials are self-regulated learning activities where students are
responsible for their own work pace and learning experience. They are working on programming assignments under supervision of teaching assistants (TAs), where help seeking is an essential skill. Especially, the ability to formulate specific questions contributes to higher test results. In addition, the likelihood of seeking help can be increased by electronic measures, as it is perceived as less threatening.
During programming tutorials at the University of Twente the queue management system TA-help.me is used. In order to improve the quality of the learning process, this system was expanded by the following features:
1. Students had to choose a category to which their question belongs.
2. Students had to formulate their question or select a previously asked
question.
The extentions resulted from a Creative Technology Design process. For evaluation, quantitative data were gathered to measure the quality of the help seeking of students and the acceptance of the tool. Furthermore, TAs were interviewed to check if the tool improved the efficiency and quality of the help seeking and giving.
The data indicate that the amount of improvident help seeking reduced, the categories were perceived as useful by the students. Furthermore, adding categories to the questions offered the TAs the opportunity to select topics and to spread their attention more effectively. Typing out the questions did, however, not increase the amount of more specific questions asked. Future research includes how to guide students to ask better questions.
responsible for their own work pace and learning experience. They are working on programming assignments under supervision of teaching assistants (TAs), where help seeking is an essential skill. Especially, the ability to formulate specific questions contributes to higher test results. In addition, the likelihood of seeking help can be increased by electronic measures, as it is perceived as less threatening.
During programming tutorials at the University of Twente the queue management system TA-help.me is used. In order to improve the quality of the learning process, this system was expanded by the following features:
1. Students had to choose a category to which their question belongs.
2. Students had to formulate their question or select a previously asked
question.
The extentions resulted from a Creative Technology Design process. For evaluation, quantitative data were gathered to measure the quality of the help seeking of students and the acceptance of the tool. Furthermore, TAs were interviewed to check if the tool improved the efficiency and quality of the help seeking and giving.
The data indicate that the amount of improvident help seeking reduced, the categories were perceived as useful by the students. Furthermore, adding categories to the questions offered the TAs the opportunity to select topics and to spread their attention more effectively. Typing out the questions did, however, not increase the amount of more specific questions asked. Future research includes how to guide students to ask better questions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Engaging, Engineering, Education |
| Subtitle of host publication | Book of Abstracts, SEFI 48th Annual Conference University of Twente (online), 20-24 September, 2020 |
| Editors | Jan van der Veen, Natascha van Hattum-Janssen, Hannu-Matti Järvinen, Tinne de Laet, Ineke ten Dam |
| Place of Publication | Enschede |
| Publisher | University of Twente |
| Pages | 679-688 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-2-87352-020-5 |
| Publication status | Published - 2020 |
| Event | 48th SEFI Annual Conference on Engineering Education, SEFI 2020 - Online, Enschede, Netherlands Duration: 20 Sept 2020 → 24 Sept 2020 Conference number: 48 https://www.sefi2020.eu |
Conference
| Conference | 48th SEFI Annual Conference on Engineering Education, SEFI 2020 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | SEFI 2020 |
| Country/Territory | Netherlands |
| City | Enschede |
| Period | 20/09/20 → 24/09/20 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- Blended learning
- Engineering in schools
- Programming tutorials
- Technology enhanced learning
- Self-regulated learning
