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Perceptions of computer programming students on interactive environments for teaching object-oriented concepts using Java
Author(s)
Mwansa, Patrick
Date Issued
2017
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
The skill of programming necessitates knowing programming tools, problem solving and
effective techniques of program design and implementation. Most students are incapable of fully
understanding and utilising the feature set of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). The
feature set of certain IDEs comes with a lot of functionalities and students have to spend a lot of
their time studying the features of the IDE without paying much attention to the syntax and
semantics of the programming language.
The main objective of this study was to examine the perceptions of students on interactive
environments for teaching Object-Oriented concepts using the Java programming language in
two integrated development environments. This was done by adopting the ISO 9126 model to
select generic external system quality characteristics and sub-characteristics that might
influence student evaluation of an IDE. The proposed model was applied on NetBeans and
JCreator LE 5.0 as IDEs for teaching Java programming using OOP concepts.
The study adopted a mixed method research approach using interviews and questionnaires. A
single-case study was used for data collection and analysis. The approaches collected data from
two groups of students using either NetBeans or JCreator and who were learning OOP
concepts. The study further looked at the students’ class tests and exam results in an effort to
have an objective overview of how students performed. These groups of students were at two
different campuses of the selected University. Each group had already been exposed to the
Java syntax.
The result from this study was general guidelines to establish an interactive OOP development
environment for teaching and learning of Java programming that enhances OOP
comprehension.
This research study involved human subjects. It was, therefore, a requirement to seek ethics
approval. Additionally, the objects involved were students of a selected University and as such a
consent letter was sought from the University.
effective techniques of program design and implementation. Most students are incapable of fully
understanding and utilising the feature set of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). The
feature set of certain IDEs comes with a lot of functionalities and students have to spend a lot of
their time studying the features of the IDE without paying much attention to the syntax and
semantics of the programming language.
The main objective of this study was to examine the perceptions of students on interactive
environments for teaching Object-Oriented concepts using the Java programming language in
two integrated development environments. This was done by adopting the ISO 9126 model to
select generic external system quality characteristics and sub-characteristics that might
influence student evaluation of an IDE. The proposed model was applied on NetBeans and
JCreator LE 5.0 as IDEs for teaching Java programming using OOP concepts.
The study adopted a mixed method research approach using interviews and questionnaires. A
single-case study was used for data collection and analysis. The approaches collected data from
two groups of students using either NetBeans or JCreator and who were learning OOP
concepts. The study further looked at the students’ class tests and exam results in an effort to
have an objective overview of how students performed. These groups of students were at two
different campuses of the selected University. Each group had already been exposed to the
Java syntax.
The result from this study was general guidelines to establish an interactive OOP development
environment for teaching and learning of Java programming that enhances OOP
comprehension.
This research study involved human subjects. It was, therefore, a requirement to seek ethics
approval. Additionally, the objects involved were students of a selected University and as such a
consent letter was sought from the University.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
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