The Effects of Computer Programming on Performance in Mathematics.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose was to investigate the effects of computer programming on performance in mathematics. The LOGO programming languagewas taught to 18 fifth, graders. A ,pretestposttest design was employed to determine whether the mathematical concept of variable could be learned through computer programming; a non-computer group of 20 fifth graders was used as a control group. Results indicated that the notion of variable could be learned through computer programming. In addition, three instructional methods for teaching programming were studied. The methods--algorithm-given, incompletecomplete program, no information given7-were considered in terms of performance in writing programs. Findings showed that although instructional method may faci-itate the IA