BTRecurTutor: a tutorial for practicing recursion in binary trees. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamouda, Sally; Edwards, Stephen H.; Elmongui, Hicham G.; Ernst, Jeremy V.; Shaffer, Clifford A.
• Is Part Of: Computer science education. Volume 30:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 216
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Recursion -- binary Trees -- auto-graded Exercises -- misconceptions; Computer science -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 004
• DOI: 10.1080/08993408.2020.1714533
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-3408

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background and Context: Recursion in binary trees has proven to be a hard topic. There was not much research on enhancing student understanding of this topic. Objective: We present a tutorial to enhance learning through practice of recursive operations in binary trees, as it is typically taught post-CS2. Method: We identified the misconceptions students have in recursive operations on binary trees. We designed a code writing exam question to measure those misconceptions. We built a tutorial that trains students on avoiding those misconceptions through the use of a semantic code analyzer that detects misconceptions and provides appropriate feedback. Findings: Our results show an improvement in student performance when using the tutorial along with the practice exercises, and even more improvement when the same exercises are used with a semantic code analyzer. Implications: The best way to use our tutorial to enhance student performance on advanced recursion is to allow students solving the tutorial exercises with the the semantic feedback.