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Computer-based tutoring that provides assistance to students in solving introductory
programming problems has significant potential for improving the quality of programming
education and reducing the instructor’s workload.
IT educators generally acknowledge that learning to program and teaching introductory
programming courses are difficult and face 3 major problems. Firstly, a majority of
novice student programmers have difficulty in starting their first program and
constructing abstract knowledge about programming, often they have trouble in setting
up their environment and can become discouraged at an early stage. Secondly, the
average class sizes of introductory programming courses have grown over recent years
and this causes difficulty in providing an effective learning environment. Thirdly,
there is an increasing requirement for lecturers to provide take-home learning materials.
ELP.NET was designed to address the three problems by providing a web-based user
interface with program template exercises. The system incorporates a simple web-based
program editor which is considered to be the easiest and most convenient interface
to use when compared with existing Integrated Development Environments. Most first
year students know how to use web browsers, so the ELP alleviates the problems students
have with learning how to use program development tools by providing a familiar
and effective learning environment. In addition, the use of a web interface increases
the level of flexible delivery and overall accessibility of the system – ELP.NET
can be used anywhere, at any time.
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