A visual programming approach for teaching cognitive modelling

This paper describes an investigation into the use of a visual programming language to teach computer-based modelling to undergraduate cognitive psychology students. Four sets of evaluation studies were carried out. The findings of these theoretical and empirical evaluations are related to the desig...

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Published in:Computers and education Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 1 - 18
Main Authors: Collins, Trevor D., Fung, Pat
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2002
Subjects:
Applications in subject areas
Programming and programming languages
Teaching/learning strategies
Applications in subject areas
Teaching/learning strategies
Programming and programming languages
ISSN:0360-1315, 1873-782X
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Abstract This paper describes an investigation into the use of a visual programming language to teach computer-based modelling to undergraduate cognitive psychology students. Four sets of evaluation studies were carried out. The findings of these theoretical and empirical evaluations are related to the design principles that informed the language and the context in which it was examined. The educational benefits of gaining some practical experience of cognitive modelling where highlighted in these studies, as was the importance of introducing the visual language within a sound teaching framework. The comments of the students and tutors regarding the use of the Hank visual programming language to teach cognitive modelling indicate that Hank avoids some of the syntactic problems associated with textual programming languages, it can be used to illustrate the flow of control during a program's execution, and it is intuitive and easy to use
AbstractList This paper describes an investigation into the use of a visual programming language to teach computer-based modelling to undergraduate cognitive psychology students. Four sets of evaluation studies were carried out. The findings of these theoretical and empirical evaluations are related to the design principles that informed the language and the context in which it was examined. The educational benefits of gaining some practical experience of cognitive modelling where highlighted in these studies, as was the importance of introducing the visual language within a sound teaching framework. The comments of the students and tutors regarding the use of the Hank visual programming language to teach cognitive modelling indicate that Hank avoids some of the syntactic problems associated with textual programming languages, it can be used to illustrate the flow of control during a program's execution, and it is intuitive and easy to use
Author Collins, Trevor D.
Fung, Pat
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  organization: Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
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Cites_doi 10.1109/52.35587
10.1109/VL.1998.706165
10.1207/s15516709cog0502_3
10.1145/5465.5470
10.1006/ijhc.1994.1047
10.1016/0010-0285(72)90022-9
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10.1109/VL.1993.269581
10.1207/s15516709cog0202_4
10.1016/S0022-5371(70)80084-6
10.1016/0020-7373(91)90040-E
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