Abstract:

In a course, there are a variety of strategies to teach its different topics, ranging from the most traditional to the use of digital media. The student's learning styles and learning motivational factors are different between members of the same group. It is essential to know the kind of our students to generate a strategy to motivate and inspire them to learn in most of the students.

In Computer Science, programming learning is a competency that all students should acquire. To achieve this competency, the students must not only study the syntax of a programming language but also develop algorithmic thinking; probably the most direct and used way to gain competency in programming is through practice. Students should be motivated within a learning environment that takes advantage of their potential and allows them to practice learning at the right time.

It is also fundamental for computer science students to know that they are coding correctly and that their programs solve their assignment and feel secure that this is correct and work efficiently, increasing their interest to learn more. For this, students need mentoring with timely feedback. The feedback must be positive to motivate the student to reflect and then create new strategies to improve solutions to problems with a programming language.

In addition, programming contests allow students to explore more advanced programming algorithms, where they take advantage of their knowledge. During the competition, they face real problems, realizing the applications of what they have learned, having the possibility to advance even more since they not only have to know how to solve the problem, but it must be in the most efficient manner and as soon as possible since the one who solves the most problems gets a better position in the table. The o feedback students get when they submit a solution to the judge is if it is correct or incorrect. In case of a tie, the winner is the one who has spent the shortest time solving the problems of the contest.

The specific objective of this study was to use the strategy of programming contests + positive feedback in some of the course activities in two computer science groups. The study showed a substantial increase in the motivation and learning of the students, demonstrating that this type of strategy inspires students to learn more appropriately in this kind of course.

Keywords:

Computer science, programming contest, positive feedback.