Novices' expectations and prior knowledge of software development: results of a study with high school students

ABSTRACT

In this paper we present results of an empirical study with about 600 secondary school students from the 11th grade.In the study novices' conceptions of software development, their attitudes towards and self-confidence with computers, as well as their expectations of learning goals and contents of informatics courses were examined.The study indicates that freshmen have different types of expectations concerning informatics. It becomes evident that their expectations depend on prior experiences and attitudes towards computers or technology. Furthermore, they turn out to be gender-specific.The study argues that the importance of computer science education results not only from the technical aspects of informatics but also from its social impacts. Informatics education as part of general education should convey, besides technical skills in programming, a suitable understanding of software development as a means to understand the importance of technology in modern societies.The résumé of the study refers to the relation between informatics education and the expectation freshmen have as to the nature of software development. Some conclusions for teaching informatics are drawn.

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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: Literacy

General Terms:
Human Factors, Measurement, Theory

Keywords:
empirical research, expectations for informatics courses, gender differences, motives for taking informatics courses, personal theory of software development, prior knowledge, process-product relation, socio-technical perspective, students' attitudes, teaching concepts of informatics