Title: Improvement of programming skills using pair programming by boosting extraversion and openness to experience

Authors: P. Radhakrishnan; S. Kanmani

Addresses: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, 605 014, India ' Department of Information Technology, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, 605 014, India

Abstract: Structured teaching is an important priority in pedagogy, because of the experience that it fits the 'culture of learning' more effectively than any other techniques. Pair programming (PP) is one such structured teaching and learning method, which, the researchers in the field of computer science are integrated in their recent studies. In this context, an experiment was conducted in Pondicherry Engineering College with 66 second year BTech computer science and engineering students, to explore the possible impact of PP. They were trained to do the programming exercises in the lab, in three phases viz. pre-pair programming (PPP), on pair programming (OPP) and resultant pair programming (RPP). At the end of each phase, a test was conducted and their programmes were corrected using an automated grading tool, by evaluating the parameters of dynamic checking, static checking, programme matching, structural weakness and total marks. During OPP, efforts were made to boost the personality traits of Extraversion and Openness to experience. The scored marks of the PPP and RPP were compared using statistical analysis, which showed that, there was significant improvement in the students' programming skills.

Keywords: pair programming; solo programming; openness to experience; extraversion; automatic grading; programming skills; skills improvement; structured teaching and learning; computer science; personality traits; extraverts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2013.053395

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2013 Vol.4 No.1, pp.13 - 35

Received: 18 Nov 2011
Accepted: 28 Sep 2012

Published online: 28 Jun 2014 *

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