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An Animated Pedagogical Agent For Assisting Novice Programmers Within ADesktop Computer EnvironmentbyDesmond Robert Case BSc, MScA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Staffordshire University for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer ScienceSeptember 2012

Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: \nLearning to program for the first time can be a daunting process, fraught with difficulty and \nsetback. The novice learner is faced with learning two skills at the same time each that depends on \nthe other; they are how a program needs to be constructed to solve a problem and how the structures \nof a program work towards solving a problem. In addition the learner has to develop practical \nskills such as how to design a solution, how to use the programming development environment, how to \nrecognise errors, how to diagnose their cause and how to successfully correct them. The nature of \nlearning how to program a computer can cause frustration to many and some to disengage before they \nhave a chance to progress. Numerous authorities have observed that novice programmers make the same \nmistakes and encounter the same problems when learning their first programming language. The \nlearner errors are usually from a fixed set of misconceptions that are easily corrected by \nexperience and with appropriate guidance. \n \nThis thesis demonstrates how a virtual animated pedagogical agent, called MRCHIPS, can extend the \nBeliefs-Desires-Intentions model of agency to provide mentoring and coaching support to novice \nprogrammers learning their first programming language, Python. The Cognitive Apprenticeship \npedagogy provides the theoretical underpinning of the agent mentoring strategy. Case-Based \nReasoning is also used to support MRCHIPS reasoning, coaching and interacting with the learner. The \nresults indicate that in a small controlled study when novice learners are assisted by MRCHIPS they \nare more productive than those working without the assistance, and are better at problem solving \nexercises, there are also manifestations of higher of degree of engagement and learning of the \nlanguage syntax.
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2099593745
Cites: 151
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Related to: 10