Article

A case for smaller class size with integrated lab for introductory computer science

Authors:

Kristy Elizabeth Boyer,

Rachael S. Dwight,

Carolyn S. Miller,

C. Dianne Raubenheimer,

Matthias F. Stallmann,

Mladen A. VoukAuthors Info & Claims

SIGCSE '07: Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

Pages 341 - 345

https://doi.org/10.1145/1227310.1227430

Published: 07 March 2007 Publication History

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Abstract

Prompted by changes in the numbers and demographics of students enrolled and being retained in computer science, the Department of Computer Science at NC State University is revising its undergraduate curriculum to better meet the needs of its students, and increase student attraction and retention. One set of changes concerns introductory computer science courses (CS1). This paper reports on a study conducted to assess the impact of class size and active learning in our CS1 courses. We find that smaller classes with integrated laboratories improve both learning and retention, as well as satisfaction of the students. Among other benefits, we found retention rates in small classes to be about 20% better than large classes.

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Luxton-Reilly ASimon Albluwi IBecker BGiannakos MKumar AOtt LPaterson JScott MSheard JSzabo CRößling GScharlau B(2018)Introductory programming: a systematic literature reviewProceedings Companion of the 23rd Annual ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education10.1145/3293881.3295779(55-106)Online publication date: 2-Jul-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3293881.3295779
Settle ASteinbach TAyers TZilora SGoda BBogaard D(2018)Retention Rates for the First Three Years of a Linked-courses Learning CommunityProceedings of the 19th Annual SIG Conference on Information Technology Education10.1145/3241815.3241854(166-171)Online publication date: 14-Sep-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3241815.3241854
Bruce K(2018)Five big open questions in computing educationACM Inroads10.1145/32306979:4(77-80)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3230697
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Index Terms

A case for smaller class size with integrated lab for introductory computer science
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

SIGCSE '07: Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

March 2007

634 pages

ISBN:1595933611

DOI:10.1145/1227310

General Chairs:
Ingrid Russell
University of Hartford
,
Susan Haller
SUNY Potsdam
,
Program Chairs:
J. D. Dougherty
Haverford College
,
Susan Rodger
Duke University

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 39, Issue 1
March 2007
581 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/1227504
Issue’s Table of Contents

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

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Published: 07 March 2007

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SIGCSE07: The 38th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

March 7 - 11, 2007

Kentucky, Covington, USA

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Overall Acceptance Rate 1,595 of 4,542 submissions, 35%

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Luxton-Reilly ASimon Albluwi IBecker BGiannakos MKumar AOtt LPaterson JScott MSheard JSzabo CRößling GScharlau B(2018)Introductory programming: a systematic literature reviewProceedings Companion of the 23rd Annual ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education10.1145/3293881.3295779(55-106)Online publication date: 2-Jul-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3293881.3295779
Settle ASteinbach TAyers TZilora SGoda BBogaard D(2018)Retention Rates for the First Three Years of a Linked-courses Learning CommunityProceedings of the 19th Annual SIG Conference on Information Technology Education10.1145/3241815.3241854(166-171)Online publication date: 14-Sep-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3241815.3241854
Bruce K(2018)Five big open questions in computing educationACM Inroads10.1145/32306979:4(77-80)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3230697
Settle ADoyle JSteinbach TZilora SAyers TBogaard D(2017)The Effect of a Computing-focused Linked-courses Learning Community on Minority and Female StudentsProceedings of the 18th Annual Conference on Information Technology Education10.1145/3125659.3125679(153-158)Online publication date: 27-Sep-2017
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3125659.3125679
Settle ASteinbach TBoisvert DZilora S(2016)Improving Retention and Reducing Isolation via a Linked-courses Learning CommunityProceedings of the 17th Annual Conference on Information Technology Education10.1145/2978192.2978212(34-39)Online publication date: 28-Sep-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2978192.2978212
Wood ZMuhl PHicks KAlphonce CTims JCaspersen MEdwards S(2016)Computational ArtProceedings of the 47th ACM Technical Symposium on Computing Science Education10.1145/2839509.2844614(261-266)Online publication date: 17-Feb-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2839509.2844614
Settle ALalor JSteinbach TSettle ASteinbach TBoisvert D(2015)Evaluating a Linked-courses Learning Community for Development MajorsProceedings of the 16th Annual Conference on Information Technology Education10.1145/2808006.2808031(127-132)Online publication date: 29-Sep-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2808006.2808031
Settle ALalor JSteinbach TDagienė VSchulte CJevsikova T(2015)A Computer Science Linked-courses Learning CommunityProceedings of the 2015 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education10.1145/2729094.2742621(123-128)Online publication date: 22-Jun-2015
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Wood ZKeen ADecker AEiselt KAlphonce CTims J(2015)Building WorldsProceedings of the 46th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education10.1145/2676723.2677249(144-149)Online publication date: 24-Feb-2015
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Settle ALalor JSteinbach TDecker AEiselt KAlphonce CTims J(2015)Reconsidering the Impact of CS1 on Novice AttitudesProceedings of the 46th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education10.1145/2676723.2677235(229-234)Online publication date: 24-Feb-2015
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