Abstract:

Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is a pedagogical approach that seeks to enable students to achieve their learning objectives through technology-mediated group interaction. In the area of computer programming, several studies have demonstrated an increased participation and better outcomes in solving programming problems by students who participate in CSCL learning environments. In high education scenarios, introductory computer programming courses seek to prepare students to solve computational problems through the use of a programming language; for this purpose, different tools have been created under the CSCL approach, which serve as spaces where students become owners of their own learning, participate voluntarily, discuss ideas, and evaluate the work of their peers. However, according to the software implementations found in the literature, there is still a need to create tools that allow the student to be involved not only in the early stages of the problem-solving process of programming problems, but also during the process of a formative evaluation of their peers through collaboration. In this context, the objective of this work is to present the computational tool called UNColab to support the resolution of programming problems through collaboration between students during a peer evaluation stage. A prototype of UNColab was implemented, and it has been validated during a collaborative learning activity in a Computer Programming course with 62 students from the Systems Engineering and Computer Science program at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. This tool was developed according to a collaborative learning script, which allowed structuring a class dynamic in two activities of the course. The results of this experience suggest that students have a greater understanding of the proposed programming problems. Students agreed on the usefulness of the tool to support the resolution of programming assignments in a collaborative way. In addition, they suggested different improvements that could open the possibilities for further studies. Therefore, this work contributes to the research area through the development of a tool that supports the teaching of computer programming in collaborative environments. Also, the validation of the tool in a computer programming course allows understanding better the benefits and challenges of using tools for computer-supported collaborative learning.

Keywords:

Collaborative learning, Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), Computer programming.