Is CS1 better with the same lecture and lab instructor?

ABSTRACT

This paper presents results from a four-semester classroom experiment to assess whether the introductory programming lecture and closed-laboratory courses would be more effective if they were taught by the same or different instructors. Using a common final exam and lab practical as dependent variables, we determined there is no statistically significant effect on learning outcomes by having the same instructor for lecture and lab. Results of a qualitative survey, however, showed a statistically significant difference in student satisfaction for the same-instructor group over the different-instructor group.

REFERENCES

• 1: Peter J. Denning , D. E. Comer , David Gries , Michael C. Mulder , Allen Tucker , A. Joe Turner , Paul R. Young, Computing as a discipline, Communications of the ACM, v.32 n.1, p.9-23, Jan. 1989 [doi>10.1145/63238.63239]
• 2: Renée McCauley, Walter Pharr, George Pothering, and Christopher Starr. "A Proposal To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Closed Laboratories In The Computer Science Curriculum," in The Proceedings of the 17th Annual Southeastern Conference of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges, pp. 191--198, Dunwoody, GA, November 7-8, 2003.
• 3: Mack Thweatt, CSI closed lab vs. open lab experiment, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.26 n.1, p.80-82, March 1994
• 4: Wilson, C. W. "Effect of Closed Lab on Successful Completion of CS1 Course," Western Kentucky University, 1997, unpublished.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Design, Management

Keywords:
CS1, closed-laboratories, computer science education research, instructional design