How Learning Logic Programming Affects Recursion Comprehension

Recursion is a central concept in computer science, yet it is difficult for beginners to comprehend. Israeli high-school students learn recursion in the framework of a special modular program in computer science (Gal-Ezer & Harel, 1999). Some of them are introduced to the concept of recursion in...

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Veröffentlicht in:Computer science education Jg. 14; H. 1; S. 37 - 53
1. Verfasser: Haberman, Bruria
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2004
Routledge
Schlagworte:
College Students
Comparative Analysis
Computer Science Education
Foreign Countries
High School Students
Israel
Knowledge Representation
Logical Thinking
Programming
Questionnaires
Teaching Methods
Israel
ISSN:0899-3408, 1744-5175
Online-Zugang:Volltext
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Zusammenfassung:Recursion is a central concept in computer science, yet it is difficult for beginners to comprehend. Israeli high-school students learn recursion in the framework of a special modular program in computer science (Gal-Ezer & Harel, 1999). Some of them are introduced to the concept of recursion in two different paradigms: the procedural programming paradigm and the logic programming (LP) paradigm. Here we discuss the implication of first learning recursion in LP on the students' understanding of the concept. The declarative approach for teaching recursion in logic programming seems to enhance students' recursion comprehension. We found that students who learned recursion in LP before learning it in a procedural paradigm differed, in terms of their mental models of recursion, from those who were acquainted with recursion in procedural programming only. More of the LP students possessed an adequate model of recursion as a process than did the non-LP students. Moreover, the LP students also attained a unique conception of recursion as a tool for knowledge representation.
ISSN:0899-3408
1744-5175
DOI:10.1076/csed.14.1.37.23500