JKarelRobot: a case study in supporting levels of cognitive development in the computer science curriculum

ABSTRACT

We introduce a new software tool, JKarelRobot, for supporting an Inside/Out pedagogy in introductory programming courses. Extending the original conception of "Karel the Robot", with Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives as a guiding principle, we have provided a mechanism for designing exercises that are cognitively appropriate to the developmental levels of our students. JKarelRobot is platform independent (written in Java) and language/paradigm independent, supporting Pascal, Java, and Lisp style environments.

REFERENCES

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• 3: James H. Cross, II , James H. Cross, II , T. Dean Hendrix , Saeed Maghsoodloo, The Control Structure Diagram: An Overview and InitialEvaluation, Empirical Software Engineering, v.3 n.2, p.131-158, 1998 [doi>10.1023/A:1008085415145]
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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.1 PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management, Performance, Theory

Keywords:
Bloom's taxonomy, CS1, CS2, inside/out pedagogy, karel the robot, software tools