PROJECT GOAL

The CS Redesign and ITSE 1402 Gateway projects focused on the redesign of the CS0/CS1/ITSE 1402/Introductory programming curriculum with the primary goal of improving student learning and retention. The project explored various techniques to improve content delivery by enhancing the individualized learning experience in order to maximize engagement and minimize frustration. The project approached the traditional programming knowledge domain in a systematic fashion but incorporated different learning and instructional strategies.

Learning strategies and techniques include:
        - prior knowledge
        - chunking
        - cognitive practice
        - generalities to specifics
        - visual elaboration
        - immediate feedback

Instructional strategies include techniques such as:
        - active learning
        - small group discussion
        - group activities
        - collaborative group participation
        - immediate group feedback

A goal for the project was to alter the nature of the interaction between the instructor and their students, to make it more interactive and focused on the individual students’ needs. By moving the student's role to more "doing" rather than "listening," they become participants in the learning process. Students are more engaged and active rather than sitting passively in a lecture that is often too technical and detailed for real learning to occur for many students.

The project was funded by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board grants (Project Numbers 71408 and 81109).