An Educational Resource to Develop the Skill of Perceiving Patterns of Misconception with Programming Learners

• Gabriel Sílverson Gomes Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul
• Ygor Takashi Nishi Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul
• Paula Bosse Ramos Federal Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul
• Leonardo Souza Silva Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul
• Eduardo Guerra Free University of Bolzen-Bolzano
• Igor Scaliante Wiese Federal Technological University of Paraná
• Yorah Bosse Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/educomp.2023.228330

Abstract

Programming learning is a complex task. There are students with problems understanding the concepts and others who understand but struggle to apply them. The difficulties, together with the lack of knowledge of the syntax of programming languages, cause learners to make mistakes when developing their code. Researchers analyzed and cataloged the programming errors most frequently committed by learners, the mistakes patterns. The presence of misunderstanding patterns can make learning more time-consuming, causing students to give up on the activity they are solving or even on the subject. In this context, the general goal of this work is to construct an educational resource to develop the ability to perceive patterns of mistakes with programming learners. We developed a set of objective questions in C and Python, addressing these mistakes patterns. Working with students, not only on what is correct but also on mistakes, will develop this skill that is so important for programmers, making them realize the errors in their codes and correcting them. In this study, we created 63 questions in C and 46 questions in Python that address 41 patterns of mistakes. These questions are available online, in different formats, for professors and learners to use during teaching and learning programming.

Keywords: Introductory Programming, CS1, Programming Learning, Patterns of Misconceptions, C, Python

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