Article

Threshold concepts in computer science: do they exist and are they useful?

Authors:

Jonas Boustedt,

Robert McCartney,

Jan Erik Moström,

Mark Ratcliffe,

Carol ZanderAuthors Info & Claims

SIGCSE '07: Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

Pages 504 - 508

https://doi.org/10.1145/1227310.1227482

Published: 07 March 2007 Publication History

Abstract

Yes, and Yes.We are currently undertaking an pirical investigation of "Threshold Concepts" in Computer Science, with input from both instructors and students. We have found good pirical evidence that at least two concepts---Object-oriented programming and pointers--are Threshold Concepts, and that there are potentially many more others.In this paper, we present results gathered using various experimental techniques, and discuss how Threshold Concepts can affect the learning process.

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Cited By

Perach SAlexandron G(2024)Mind the Gap: Confronting the Vast Divide Between CS Teaching and Machine Learning PedagogyTechnology Enhanced Learning for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education10.1007/978-3-031-72315-5_24(344-358)Online publication date: 16-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-72315-5_24
Nasir ULaiq M(2022)Threshold Concepts and Skills in Software Architecture: Instructors’ Perspectives2022 29th Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference (APSEC)10.1109/APSEC57359.2022.00076(547-553)Online publication date: Dec-2022
https://doi.org/10.1109/APSEC57359.2022.00076
Mannila LHeintz FKjällander SÅkerfeldt A(2020)Programming in primary educationProceedings of the 15th Workshop on Primary and Secondary Computing Education10.1145/3421590.3421598(1-10)Online publication date: 28-Oct-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3421590.3421598
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Threshold concepts in computer science: do they exist and are they useful?
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education

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This paper describes Threshold Concepts, a theory of learning that distinguishes core concepts whose characteristics can make them troublesome in learning. With an eye to applying this theory in computer science, we consider this notion in the context ...
Putting threshold concepts into context in computer science education

This paper describes Threshold Concepts, a theory of learning that distinguishes core concepts whose characteristics can make them troublesome in learning. With an eye to applying this theory in computer science, we consider this notion in the context ...
Threshold concepts in computer science: do they exist and are they useful?

Yes, and Yes.We are currently undertaking an pirical investigation of "Threshold Concepts" in Computer Science, with input from both instructors and students. We have found good pirical evidence that at least two concepts---Object-oriented programming ...

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Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

SIGCSE '07: Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

March 2007

634 pages

ISBN:1595933611

DOI:10.1145/1227310

General Chairs:
Ingrid Russell
University of Hartford
,
Susan Haller
SUNY Potsdam
,
Program Chairs:
J. D. Dougherty
Haverford College
,
Susan Rodger
Duke University

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 39, Issue 1
March 2007
581 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/1227504
Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 2007 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 07 March 2007

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SIGCSE07: The 38th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

March 7 - 11, 2007

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Cited By

Perach SAlexandron G(2024)Mind the Gap: Confronting the Vast Divide Between CS Teaching and Machine Learning PedagogyTechnology Enhanced Learning for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education10.1007/978-3-031-72315-5_24(344-358)Online publication date: 16-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-72315-5_24
Nasir ULaiq M(2022)Threshold Concepts and Skills in Software Architecture: Instructors’ Perspectives2022 29th Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference (APSEC)10.1109/APSEC57359.2022.00076(547-553)Online publication date: Dec-2022
https://doi.org/10.1109/APSEC57359.2022.00076
Mannila LHeintz FKjällander SÅkerfeldt A(2020)Programming in primary educationProceedings of the 15th Workshop on Primary and Secondary Computing Education10.1145/3421590.3421598(1-10)Online publication date: 28-Oct-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3421590.3421598
Piwek PSavage SZhang JSherriff MHeckman SCutter PMonge A(2020)Challenges with Learning to Program and Problem SolveProceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education10.1145/3328778.3366838(494-499)Online publication date: 26-Feb-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3328778.3366838
Droubay ABouchard D(2020)Pointer Attack: Lessons Learned in Computer Concept GamificationGames and Learning Alliance10.1007/978-3-030-63464-3_17(179-188)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2020
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63464-3_17
McGill MPollock IScharlau BMcDermott RPears ASabin M(2019)If Memory ServesProceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education10.1145/3304221.3325550(241-242)Online publication date: 2-Jul-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3304221.3325550
Khomokhoana PNel L(2019)Decoding Source Code Comprehension: Bottlenecks Experienced by Senior Computer Science StudentsICT Education10.1007/978-3-030-35629-3_2(17-32)Online publication date: 22-Nov-2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35629-3_2
McGill MJohnson CAtlas JBouchard DMessom CPollock IScott MSheard JKorhonen A(2018)If Memory ServesProceedings of the 2017 ITiCSE Conference on Working Group Reports10.1145/3174781.3174783(25-46)Online publication date: 30-Jan-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3174781.3174783
Turner SPérez-Quiñones MEdwards S(2018)Peer Review in CS2ACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/315271518:3(1-37)Online publication date: 6-Sep-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3152715
Liu Q(2018)jCAB: Making Java Class Design Easier for Novice Programmers2018 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)10.1109/FIE.2018.8658507(1-6)Online publication date: Oct-2018
https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2018.8658507
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