Using a Variety of Technologies to Teach Compute Hardware

Background Approach

Quizzes Web quests Basic programming Raspberry Pi

Results Conclusions

Background Difficult to teach computer students about future

hardware Hardware constantly changing

important to understand hardware and learn to learn Skills required

Work with limited information Solve problems Map new information to current knowledge

Computer hardware is a black box Need to demystify Build up student’s confidence Make enjoyable Show its useful

Background Modules seem standalone

Need to provide show links Promote cross-module learning

Feedback problems Writing skills important Difficult to provide timely feedback for written texts

Students IT students (not computer science students) No prior knowledge assumed

Module Introduction to Computer Hardware First year, semester 1 12 week semester, labs each week

Background Module

Concepts: computer hardware concepts basic hardware installation different types and designs of computer hardware computer hardware deployment and management

Learning outcomes include: ability to compare computer hardware types and designs demonstrate basic computer hardware installation skills interpret computer hardware specifications.

Strategies Quizzes

Weekly online quiz Motivation

Check knowledge and learning Provide timely feedback to students Student retention

Encourages participation Get to know lab partner

Format Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) Open-book, closed-book, web quests

Difficult to design good distracters

Strategies Web Quests

Explore and evaluate data from the internetComponents

Introduction Task description Description of steps Pointers to resources (optional)

Motivation Not feasible nor desirable to provide all information Need to learn to learn for life Expose students to wealth of information available

Strategies

Basic programming (Scratch)No programming module in semester 1Javascript: first year, semester 2Java: second year (semesters 1 and 2)Students have to write Scratch programMotivation

Introduce some programming element Link to other modules Learn to learn, minimal guidance provided

Strategies Raspberry Pi

Low-cost, credit card size computerNo guidance provided – asked to get

Raspberry Pi up and running Install Apache serverSonic Pi

programming environment to make music Students had to write tune and review other’s tune Some guidance provided (due to time constraints)

Results Labs completed successfully Difficult to compare with other years Student anonymous questionnaire

Labs clear and good for learningLiked working in pairsHad sufficient timeLink between lecture and lab clear

Disconnect reported by some students

Results Quizzes

Immediate feedback Improved attendance/participationResults spread was normal

=> questions not too easy, not too hard

Useful for lecturer See results in real-time Problem questions easy to identify

Results Web Quests

Digital natives, but not necessarily competent or savvy

Able to find infoUnderstood challenges of web quests

Basic programmingAble to use Scratch without problemsNot exactly like programming but

Used loops and variablesWrote more complex programmes - good

Results

Raspberry PiAble to use without problemsStudents enjoyed using Raspberry Pi

Especially Sonic Pi Some Flow experiences

Lab technicians perspective5 lab techniciansLabs worked well

No problems with quizzes, web quests Raspberry Pi usage beneficial and successful

Discussion Replacing lab reports with multiple choice quiz

worked Key is setting good questions with good distracters

Difficult for students to think …. and not just regurgitate information Need to understand subtle differences

Raspberry Pi computers Good to learn new hardware Build up students’ confidence

Conclusions Difficult to each computer hardware ab

initio Need to foster learning skills

Cannot learn all information on the courseNeed to learn how to learn

Combination of strategies workedQuizzes, web quests, Scratch, Raspberry Pi

Added bonusStudents enjoyed the course … good for

learning