Analysing Learner Strategies in Programming Using Clickstream Data

Daevesh Singh, Indrayani Nishane, Ramkumar Rajendran

2024

Abstract

Programming courses have high failure rates and to address this, it is crucial to better understand learning strategies associated with higher learning gains. Digital learning environments capture fine-grained data that offer valuable insights into learners’ learning strategies. Although much research has been dedicated to analysing student programming behaviours in integrated development environments, it remains unclear how their reading and video-watching behaviours, which are used for knowledge acquisition, influence these programming behaviours. In this study, we aim to bridge this gap by analysing learners’ actions in PyGuru, a learning environment for Python programming, using process mining techniques to capture their temporal learning behaviours. Our objective is to understand the behaviours associated with high and low-scoring learners. Study reveals that high-scoring learners execute codes more, indicating a correlation between execution actions and conceptual reinforcement and engaging in active video-watching behaviours, contributing to higher learning gains. Conversely, low-scoring learners tend to rely on trial and error techniques, neglecting content review after execution. Furthermore, despite the frequent use of the ‘highlight’ action, low-scoring learners fail to revisit highlighted content, suggesting a lack of comprehensive information processing. By uncovering such behaviours, we aim to shed light on effective strategies associated with higher performance, thereby helping instructors provide feedback to struggling learners.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Singh D., Nishane I. and Rajendran R. (2024). Analysing Learner Strategies in Programming Using Clickstream Data. In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 2: CSEDU; ISBN 978-989-758-697-2, SciTePress, pages 87-96. DOI: 10.5220/0012636500003693

in Bibtex Style

@conference{csedu24,
author={Daevesh Singh and Indrayani Nishane and Ramkumar Rajendran},
title={Analysing Learner Strategies in Programming Using Clickstream Data},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 2: CSEDU},
year={2024},
pages={87-96},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0012636500003693},
isbn={978-989-758-697-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 2: CSEDU
TI - Analysing Learner Strategies in Programming Using Clickstream Data
SN - 978-989-758-697-2
AU - Singh D.
AU - Nishane I.
AU - Rajendran R.
PY - 2024
SP - 87
EP - 96
DO - 10.5220/0012636500003693
PB - SciTePress