Abstract
Using puzzles in IT is an introductory model that uses many kinds of puzzles, puzzle-like problems and games to illustrate abstraction and problem-solving concepts in IT with hands-on pedagogy. It is difficult for a novice to understand abstraction IT concepts and programming language at introductory step can be challenging. In order to ease the conceptual and language barrier, puzzle was developed for IT education. Puzzle has been used in IT programs in recent years and there are many kinds of puzzles. In this paper, three-dimensional puzzle was used for interests by hands-on activity. Abstraction and problem-solving concepts are parts of 'Programming Fundamentals and Algorithms' in CC2006 curriculum. When a student solves the puzzle, they develop their own problem-solving strategy. By analyzing student's thinking process, it is possible to construct student's thoughts into steps. At each step, a person's thought might differ from others and description of all the steps is referred as 'Think-Aloud'. Aside from developing their own problem-solving strategy, this paper also focuses on student's ability to group puzzles with similar problem-solving strategy and ability to generalize the problem-solving strategy. In 2006, an experiment was conducted which consisted of 25 students who are majoring in Computer Science Education in Korea University. Experimental results showed that students understood abstraction concepts easier by solving Puzzle. In addition, outstanding students had fewer problem-solving steps compared to the rest of the class. It was found that tendency to use more efficient processes promoted the acquisition of hints: analyzing structure, features and constraints of the Puzzle.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | SIGITE'07 - Proceedings of the 2007 ACM Information Technology Education Conference |
| Pages | 135-140 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 Dec 1 |
| Event | 8th ACM SIG-Information Technology Education Conference, SIGITE 2007 - Destin, FL, United States Duration: 2007 Oct 18 → 2007 Oct 20 |
Other
| Other | 8th ACM SIG-Information Technology Education Conference, SIGITE 2007 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Destin, FL |
| Period | 07/10/18 → 07/10/20 |
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Keywords
- Abstraction
- Generalization
- Novice
- Problem-solving
- Programming
- Puzzle
- Teaching/learning strategy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Networks and Communications
- Information Systems
- Education
Cite this
Using puzzles : Problem-solving and abstraction. / Cha, SeungEun; Kwon, DaiYoung; Lee, Won Gyu.
SIGITE'07 - Proceedings of the 2007 ACM Information Technology Education Conference. 2007. p. 135-140.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Using puzzles
T2 - Problem-solving and abstraction
AU - Cha, SeungEun
AU - Kwon, DaiYoung
AU - Lee, Won Gyu
PY - 2007/12/1
Y1 - 2007/12/1
N2 - Using puzzles in IT is an introductory model that uses many kinds of puzzles, puzzle-like problems and games to illustrate abstraction and problem-solving concepts in IT with hands-on pedagogy. It is difficult for a novice to understand abstraction IT concepts and programming language at introductory step can be challenging. In order to ease the conceptual and language barrier, puzzle was developed for IT education. Puzzle has been used in IT programs in recent years and there are many kinds of puzzles. In this paper, three-dimensional puzzle was used for interests by hands-on activity. Abstraction and problem-solving concepts are parts of 'Programming Fundamentals and Algorithms' in CC2006 curriculum. When a student solves the puzzle, they develop their own problem-solving strategy. By analyzing student's thinking process, it is possible to construct student's thoughts into steps. At each step, a person's thought might differ from others and description of all the steps is referred as 'Think-Aloud'. Aside from developing their own problem-solving strategy, this paper also focuses on student's ability to group puzzles with similar problem-solving strategy and ability to generalize the problem-solving strategy. In 2006, an experiment was conducted which consisted of 25 students who are majoring in Computer Science Education in Korea University. Experimental results showed that students understood abstraction concepts easier by solving Puzzle. In addition, outstanding students had fewer problem-solving steps compared to the rest of the class. It was found that tendency to use more efficient processes promoted the acquisition of hints: analyzing structure, features and constraints of the Puzzle.
AB - Using puzzles in IT is an introductory model that uses many kinds of puzzles, puzzle-like problems and games to illustrate abstraction and problem-solving concepts in IT with hands-on pedagogy. It is difficult for a novice to understand abstraction IT concepts and programming language at introductory step can be challenging. In order to ease the conceptual and language barrier, puzzle was developed for IT education. Puzzle has been used in IT programs in recent years and there are many kinds of puzzles. In this paper, three-dimensional puzzle was used for interests by hands-on activity. Abstraction and problem-solving concepts are parts of 'Programming Fundamentals and Algorithms' in CC2006 curriculum. When a student solves the puzzle, they develop their own problem-solving strategy. By analyzing student's thinking process, it is possible to construct student's thoughts into steps. At each step, a person's thought might differ from others and description of all the steps is referred as 'Think-Aloud'. Aside from developing their own problem-solving strategy, this paper also focuses on student's ability to group puzzles with similar problem-solving strategy and ability to generalize the problem-solving strategy. In 2006, an experiment was conducted which consisted of 25 students who are majoring in Computer Science Education in Korea University. Experimental results showed that students understood abstraction concepts easier by solving Puzzle. In addition, outstanding students had fewer problem-solving steps compared to the rest of the class. It was found that tendency to use more efficient processes promoted the acquisition of hints: analyzing structure, features and constraints of the Puzzle.
KW - Abstraction
KW - Generalization
KW - Novice
KW - Problem-solving
KW - Programming
KW - Puzzle
KW - Teaching/learning strategy
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77953036904&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/1324302.1324331
DO - 10.1145/1324302.1324331
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77953036904
SN - 9781595939203
SP - 135
EP - 140
BT - SIGITE'07 - Proceedings of the 2007 ACM Information Technology Education Conference
ER -