The Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Software Mentoring Agent for Novice Programmers
Speaker: Mark Venz, ITEE
When: 2004-08-20 11:00:00
Venue: 78-420
Host: Dr Peta Wyeth
Abstract:Programming is recognised as a difficult activity for beginners
across all age groups. This seminar discusses research focused on
implementation and evaluation of a programming design, planning and
support agent. This agent will provide a conversation style
interface to assist novice programmers in the design, creation and
implementation of programming solutions.
Research into learning to program has been focused on making
programming easier to do. Making the syntax of programming languages
simpler has been seen as an answer to the difficulties related to
learning to program. However a major difficultly in programming
lies with the design of the solution. Having an understanding of
programming structures and how they make the machine behave is vital
in codifying solutions.
The proposed agent will assist the novice programmer by asking
questions based on their description of the problem they wish to
solve. These questions aim to direct the user through the program
design process. This agent will differ from current intelligent
tutoring system as it will be specifically aimed at young adults and
adolescents, middle school students.
This seminar will review background research, a user study into
adolescents' programming abilities, and finally the design criteria
for the proposed new system based on outcomes from both the research
and the user study. The proposed agent-based system will support
adolescent novice programmers by
- making concrete new information and programming elements
- providing information and support in their vocabulary
- encouraging the exploration of problem space
- providing support relevant to their needs.
Biography:(biography unavailable)
Type: Ph.D confirmation
Contact:Dr Peta Wyeth, seminar host (peta@itee.uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator)
(guido@itee.uq.edu.au)