A research model in didactics of programming

Abstract

This paper presents a research model in didactics of programming elaborated within the theoretical framework of the epistemological theory of Jean Piaget. That theory explains the construction of scientific knowledge based on empirical studies made by Piaget over many years. The model arises from the analysis of the results of the application of principles of the theory, especially the triad of intra-inter-trans stages, to the empirical study of the construction of the concepts of algorithm, data structure and program. The elaboration of the model is a contribution to the development of the didactics of programming and, in general, of the didactics of computer science, since the model can be used in other computer science topics. Didactics is a specific area within computer science, with its own foundations and methods, which studies in depth topics related to education in the discipline. Two empirical studies about the construction of knowledge of algorithms and data structures, and of the corresponding programs as executable objects, are briefly described to illustrate the model.
Both examples use a search algorithm (binary and linear) and the implementations are in the programming language C.