Abstract
Object-oriented programming is seen as a difficult skill to master. There is considerable debate about the most appropriate way to introduce novice programmers to object-oriented concepts. Is it possible to uncover what the critical aspects or features are that enhance the learning of object-oriented programming? Practitioners have differing understandings of the nature of an object-oriented program. Uncovering these different ways of understanding leads to agreater understanding of the critical aspects and their relationship tothe structure of the program produced. A phenomenographic studywas conducted to uncover practitioner understandings of the nature of an object-oriented program. The study identified five levels of understanding and three dimensions of variation within these levels. These levels and dimensions of variation provide a framework for fostering conceptual change with respect to the nature of an object-oriented program.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 269-287 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Computer Science Education |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Sept 2011 |
Bibliographical note
This is an electronic version of an article published in Thompson, E & Kinshuk 2011, 'The nature of an object-oriented program: how do practitioners understand the nature of what they are creating?', Computer science education, vol 21, no. 3, pp. 269-287.. Computer Science Education is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=0899-3408&volume=21&issue=3&spage=269Keywords
- perception
- understanding
- program structure
- critical aspects
- phenomenography
- object-oriented
- programming