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Exploring students' understanding of the concept of algorithm: levels of abstraction

Authors:

Jacob Perrenet,

Jan Friso Groote,

Eric KaasenbroodAuthors Info & Claims

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Volume 37, Issue 3

Pages 64 - 68

https://doi.org/10.1145/1151954.1067467

Published: 27 June 2005 Publication History

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Abstract

How do we know if our students are beginning to think like computer scientists? In this study we have defined four levels of abstraction in the thinking of computer science students about the concept of algorithm. We constructed a list of questions about algorithms to measure the answering level as an indication for the thinking level. This list was presented to various groups of Bachelor Computer Science students. The mean answering level increased between successive year groups as well as within year groups during the year, mainly from the second to the third level. Little relation was found between answering levels and test results on algorithm oriented courses. The study was inspired by the tradition of mathematics education research.

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Velez XDorodchi MZhange MCooper S(2024)Understanding Algorithmic Problem Solving using LLMsProceedings of the 2024 on ACM Virtual Global Computing Education Conference V. 210.1145/3649409.3691086(327-328)Online publication date: 5-Dec-2024
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Landman MKohn TMonga MLonati VBarendsen ESheard JPaterson J(2024)"Something that Happens Each Day" - Students' Explanations of What Algorithms AreProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653531(199-205)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
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Hung EVanderberg MKrause GSkuratowicz EStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)Making Abstraction Concrete in the Elementary ClassroomProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630890(540-546)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
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Index Terms

Exploring students' understanding of the concept of algorithm: levels of abstraction
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education
      2. Model curricula

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 37, Issue 3

September 2005

418 pages

ISSN:0097-8418

DOI:10.1145/1151954

Issue’s Table of Contents

ITiCSE '05: Proceedings of the 10th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education
June 2005
440 pages
ISBN:1595930248
DOI:10.1145/1067445
Conference Chairs:
José Cunha
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
,
William Fleischman
Villanova University
,
Program Chairs:
Viera K. Proulx
Northeastern University
,
João Lourenço
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 27 June 2005

Published in SIGCSE Volume 37, Issue 3

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Velez XDorodchi MZhange MCooper S(2024)Understanding Algorithmic Problem Solving using LLMsProceedings of the 2024 on ACM Virtual Global Computing Education Conference V. 210.1145/3649409.3691086(327-328)Online publication date: 5-Dec-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649409.3691086
Landman MKohn TMonga MLonati VBarendsen ESheard JPaterson J(2024)"Something that Happens Each Day" - Students' Explanations of What Algorithms AreProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653531(199-205)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649217.3653531
Hung EVanderberg MKrause GSkuratowicz EStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)Making Abstraction Concrete in the Elementary ClassroomProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630890(540-546)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630890
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Gero AHadish MKvatinsky S(2024)Abstract Thinking of Beginning Electrical Engineering and Computer Science StudentsTowards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education10.1007/978-3-031-53022-7_33(323-328)Online publication date: 7-Feb-2024
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