Volume 10, Number 6

The Impact of Using Visual Programming Environment Towards College Students’ Achievement and Understanding in Programming

  Authors

Azniah Ismail, Siti Sakinah Mohd Yusof, Nor Hasbiah Ubaidullah, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

  Abstract

This study aimed to identify the impact of using a visual programming environment on college students’ achievement and understanding when learning computer programming. In this quasi-experimental study, 91 students were divided systematically into an experimental group (53 students) and a control group (38 students). The experimental group were exposed with a visual programming environment while the control group were using an ordinary text-based programming environment. Data was collected using pre-test and post-test, then analysed using paired t-test, independent sample t-test and thematic content analysis. A significant increase in the students’ achievement was recorded during the paired t-test for both groups. However, there is no significant difference in the students’ achievement between the groups. Surprisingly, the thematic analysis showed that students’ understanding in the experimental group were improved relatively better than in the control group. Thus, we conclude that visual programming environment have better impact to the students’ understanding.

  Keywords

Visual Programming Environment, Learning Computer Programming, Achievement, Understanding, College Students