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Abstract - Previous research has estimated failure rates in and Information Technology (SCIT) at the University of
introductory programming courses to be as high as 50% in Technology, Jamaica (UTech), Introduction to Programming
universities around the world. These high incidences of (ITP) is the foundation introductory programming course
failure have also led to negative attitudes towards taught in the first semester of the first year of the programme.
programming. This paper takes a look at the Introduction It is important to note that the ITP course is language-
to Programming course offered at the University of independent and traditionally does not require the use of
Technology, Jamaica. Pre-and post test programming computers to test algorithms developed.
scores were used to measure academic performance, while Records show that failure rates for ITP for the past four
a survey derived from a modified Fennema-Sherman years range from approximately 30% to 48%, that is, those
mathematics attitudes scale was used to measure student BSCIT students who fail ITP on their first attempt. Various
attitude towards programming. Three sub-categories were strategies have been undertaken to come up with answers as to
used for the measurement of attitudes, namely, personal why the situation continues to exist and how best it can be
confidence in learning programming, usefulness of resolved. These include an action research project to identify
programming and the perception of teacher motivation. factors contributing to poor student performance in an
Results indicate little evidence of a positive effect of peer introductory C Programming course [2], reviews of aptitude
tutoring on the academic performance of students. It also tests, the results of which are used as a part of the selection
reveals that attitude, and in particular, confidence in criteria for students entering the programme, as well as other
learning programming, plays an important role in strategies. Also, a study is being undertaken to examine the
students’ academic performance. This paper discusses the admission criteria for students entering the BSCIT programme
design of the study and analyzes the results gathered. in SCIT [3].
The knowledge to be generated by the study will interest
Index Terms - attitude to programming, introductory programming instructors, not just from UTech but from other
programming, peer tutoring. universities having similar experiences of high failure rates.
The findings of the study will be quite useful in determining
INTRODUCTION how educational practices in the area of introductory
Introductory programming is a foundation first year course in programming can be improved and whether peer tutoring
many Computer Science degree programmes. Its role is to should be considered as an effective instructional method for
teach general principles that will enable the student to develop this course.
logical, reasoning and problem-solving skills. These skills are LITERATURE REVIEW
difficult to teach and consequently, many students find it
difficult to grasp the general concepts of programming, often The instructional method used to deliver an introductory
resulting in high dropout or failure rates. Universities around programming course impacts significantly on success in the
the world have described undesirable failure rates in course. The use of conceptual methods of instruction to foster
introductory programming courses, with ‘reported withdrawal, knowledge of the computer and the programming language is
failure, and D-grade rates approaching 50 percent’ [1]. This required for learning programming skills and it is believed that
research examines the effects of peer tutoring, as well as novices differ from experts in their degree of understanding of
attitude to programming, on the academic performance of first the concepts underlying programming [4]. Conventional or
year students taking the introductory programming course. traditional teaching involves a teacher-centred strategy in
which the teacher performs most of the activities, presenting
BACKGROUND structured knowledge to the student and playing a significant
In the Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information role in the delivery of the instruction. Tutorials are used to
Technology (BSCIT) programme in the School of Computing help the learner use knowledge and skills, learn interpersonal
Female Mean 3.75 3.75 3.75 [1] Mahmoud, Q. H., Wlodek D. & Swayne, D., " Making Computer
Std. 0.56 1.03 0.79 Programming Fun and Accessible ", Computer (IEEE), 2004, pp. 108,
Deviation 106-107.
Total Mean 3.70 3.91 3.64 [2] McNamarah, S., Pyne, R., " Teaching a First Level Programming
Course: Strategies for Improving Students’ Performance ", Journal of
Std. 0.99 0.82 0.68 Art Science & Technology, Volume 1, 2004, pp. 42-49.
Deviation
[3] McNamarah, S., Golding, P., " Assessment of Admission Criteria for
Predicting Students’ Academic Performance in SCIT ", (Unpublished).
The attitude survey was only administered at the end of
[4] Shih, Y., Alessi, S. M., " Mental Models and Transfer of Learning in
the course; however it would have been useful to examine the Computer Programming ", Journal of Research on Computing in
change in attitude from the beginning to the end of the course. Education, Vol. 26, Issue 2, 1993.
Teacher Observations [5] Cotton, J., " The Theory of Learning Strategies: An Introduction ",
Kogan Page Limited: Great Britain, 1995.
In the experimental group, it was observed that there was
[6] Slavin, R., " Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice", Allyn and
reluctance on the part of a few students to work with their peer Bacon: USA, 2000.
when the pair was someone they seemed to seldom interact
[7] Magin, D. J., Churches, A.E., " Peer tutoring in Engineering Design: A
with outside of the class. A few students actually commented Case Study ", Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 20, Issue 1, 1995.
that they preferred to work alone than with partners, however
they were encouraged to and did work with their peers for the [8] Schloss, P. J., Kobza, S.A., “The Use of Peer Tutoring for the
Acquisition of Functional Math Skills Among Students with Moderate
entire semester. Others however seemed very positive about Retardation ", Education & Treatment of Children, Vol. 20, Issue 2,
the peer tutoring experience. When given the problems, they 1997.