Successful Steps in Higher Education to Stop Computer Science Students from Attrition (original) (raw)
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The purpose of our study was to identify reasons for high dropout of students enrolled in the first year of the computer science study program to make it possible to determine students, who are potentially in risk. Several factors that could affect attrition, as it was originally assumed, were studied: high school grades (admission score), compensative course in high school mathematics, intermediate grades for core courses, prior knowledge of programming. However, the results of our study indicate that none of the studied factors is determinant to identify those students, who are going to abandon their studies, with great precision. The majority of the studied students drop out in the 1st semester of the 1st year, and the dropout consists mostly of those, who do not really begin studies. Therefore, one of the main conclusions is such that the planned activities of informing about the contents of the program should be carried out, and the perspective students should be offered a possibility to evaluate their potential to study computer science before choosing a study program.
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Attrition is an important issue in higher education, especially in the field of computer science (CS). Here, we investigate to what extent an education reform affects the attrition of students by analyzing the pattern of grades of CS students’ academic achievement from 2010 to 2018 by IRT, based on Rasch-model analysis. We analyze data from 3673 undergraduate students of a large public university. In 2016 an education reform—as an intervention—was added to our BSc program: all theoretical lectures became compulsory to attend and we introduced a learning methodology course for all first-year students. According to our results, after the education reform most subjects became accomplishable, and students with lower levels of ability also tried to take exams. We succeeded in retaining 28% of our students. Analyzing students’ results could help administrators develop new programs in order to increase retention.
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This study endeavors to seek and assess the contributory factors affecting computer science and information technology students’ attrition rate. A total of 64 students under the College of Engineering and Computer Studies (CECS) of St. Michael’s College who officially withdrew their classes were included as the subjects of the study. Determining these contributory factors were based from their reasons indicated from the official withdrawal form filed by these students. Findings revealed that attrition rate was caused mainly by financial reasons, followed by students’ health reasons and parents’ related reasons. Furthermore, the study showed that female students are more vulnerable of withdrawing a course when faced a financial adversities than male students. Likewise, first year and second year students taking up BS Information Technology would likely drop or withdraw a course.
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Performance of Students in Computer Programming: An Analysis
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The recent challenges in the delivery of instruction leads to the indispensable use of online platforms. Tasks of mentors and learners are now required to be done online. Presently it is undeniable that all disciplines involve the use of a computer. Thus the increasing utilization of computers is not only for computer education and computer programming skills but in all fields or disciplines. This study determined the challenges and experiences encountered by lecturers and students in relation to the acquisition and transfer of relevant knowledge in computer education specifically in programming courses. The Random Sampling method was used in identifying the sample size that is calculated based on the following parameters: (1) population size; (2) margin of error; and (3) confidence level. The total population of respondents is one hundred twenty-nine (129), eighty-four (84), or 65% males and forty-five (45), or 35% females. The test-retest method was employed to ensure the reliability of the instrument and the Modified-adopted survey questionnaire for gathering the required data. In order to check the coefficient of reliability of the data the Spearman-Brown method was utilized. Results revealed that most males prefer to enroll in Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS), keener and more motivated to do programming. They are keener in computer programming. Study also shows that students need to have the good foundation in courses like (1) knowledge in basic science and math course as well as (2) more hands-on programming activities. In order to produce well-versed BS Computer Science graduates, it is recommended that a more enhanced IT and Computing Education and Orientation Program should be given priority.
Lower dropout rates and better grades through revised course infrastructure
Programming skill is one of the skills everyone tends to expect from a computer science graduate. However, recently many universities have reported high dropout rates and problems grasping the basic programming concepts in the first programming courses. In some cases such problems can severely disturb the normal advancement of the studies since basic programming skill is often a prerequisite for advanced courses.
Computer Programming Aptitude Test as a Tool for Reducing Student Attrition
Vide. Tehnoloģija. Resursi, 2015
The stable trend to lose from one-third to half of students in the first study year of computing studies motivated us to explore, which methods are used to determine in advance such applicants, who have no change to overcome the first study year. Initially, a research about the factors influencing the attrition in Faculty of Computing at the University of Latvia was conducted. The research revealed that the trend of non-beginning studies might indicate the wrong choice of the study field and possible lack of understanding of what is programming by enrolled students (applicants as well as pupils). The study provides the review of the situation with programming aptitude tests in the world, which could serve as one of the solutions to the dropout reduction. An action plan is proposed, which is based on the exploration of students and evaluation of activities already conducted at the Faculty of Computing of the University of Latvia to reduce dropout (School of Young Programmers, Compensative Course in High School Mathematics, Mentoring programs). Moreover, the supplementation of these activities by one of the existing programming attitude tests (or a combination of several tests) or a necessity to develop a new similar test is considered.