Scaffolded Block-based Instructional Tool for Linear Data Structures: A Constructivist Design to Ease Data Structures’ Understanding

Authors

  • Daniel Felipe Almanza-Cortés Universidad El Bosque
  • Manuel Felipe Del Toro-Salazar Universidad El Bosque
  • Ricardo Andrés Urrego-Arias Universidad El Bosque
  • Pedro Guillermo Feijóo-García University of Florida Universidad El Bosque
  • Fernando De la Rosa-Rosero Universidad de los Andes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i10.10051

Keywords:

Data structures, blocks-based language, visual blocks programming, instructional technologies, scaffolding

Abstract


Data Structures courses commonly introduce topics involving high levels of abstraction and complexity, requiring significant effort from instructors and apprentices to achieve positive outcomes from the teaching-learning process. Despite the multiple studies that have occurred within the Computer Science Education (CSE) community to understand the experiences novice programmers may have when learning how to program, there is still a lack of exploration and research on understanding these experiences in scenarios different from first-year Computer Science (CS) courses. Looking further from CS introductory courses, this paper presents the results of a pilot study that evaluated the interaction of a group of CS Colombian students with DStBlocks, which is a scaffolded block-based instructional technology, designed and developed to ease linear data structures understanding. The findings and results of this pilot study are favorable, corresponding to tests centered on user experience and learning impact.

Author Biographies

Pedro Guillermo Feijóo-García, University of Florida Universidad El Bosque

Doctoral Researcher Engaging Learning Lab Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA

Fernando De la Rosa-Rosero, Universidad de los Andes

Associate Professor Systems & Computing Engineering Department Faculty of Engineering Universidad de los Andes, Colombia

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Published

2019-05-30

How to Cite

Almanza-Cortés, D. F., Del Toro-Salazar, M. F., Urrego-Arias, R. A., Feijóo-García, P. G., & De la Rosa-Rosero, F. (2019). Scaffolded Block-based Instructional Tool for Linear Data Structures: A Constructivist Design to Ease Data Structures’ Understanding. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 14(10), pp. 161–179. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i10.10051

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 10 (2019)

Section

Papers

License

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