Abstracts Category : Other

Mathematicalthinking skills needed by first year programmingstudents

by Carla Coetzee

The aim of this qualitative study is to explore anddescribe the mathematical thinking skills that students require fora first level programming subject that forms part of the NationalDiploma in Information Communication Technology (ICT) at aUniversity of Technology (UoT). Mathematics is an entry requirementfor many tertiary programmes, including ICT courses, unfortunatelythe poor quality of schooling in South Africa limits learners'access to higher education. From the literature it is evident thatstudents lack fluency in fundamental mathematical andproblem-solving skills when they enter higher education. In thisstudy, the concept of programming thinking skills is explored,described and linked to mathematical thinking skills. An instrument(Mathematical and Programming Thinking Skills Matrix for theAnalysis of Programming Assessment) has been developed and used toanalyse examination papers of a first-year programming subject (atTUT) in order to identify mathematical skills as these appear inprogramming assessments. Semi-structures interviews were conductedwith first-year programming lecturers, examiners and moderators.The literature as well and the results of the analysed dataindicated and confirmed that mathematical thinking skills areextremely important when learning to program. The results of thestudy indicate a strong relationship between mathematical thinkingskills and programming thinking skills. The outcome of this studyis therefore a set of mathematical thinking skills that needs to bedeveloped when compiling a mathematics curriculum for first levelprogramming students studying towards a National Diploma inICT.Advisors/Committee Members: Stols, Gerrit H. (advisor).