Digitaliseringspotential av programmeringskurser inom den högre utbildningen

Abstract

For students of IT-related subjects, programming is a fundamental skill that should be acquired at an early stage of their education. This includes not only the learning of syntax and semantics of specific programming languages but also the developing of capabilities to combine different computer instructions to an algorithm or a computer program that can solve a particular problem. So far, many programming courses were held as on-campus courses and the shift to online courses requires the identification of new adequate forms of education.

The aim of this article is to analyze existing online learning platforms and to identify tools and didactical methods that can be used for online programming courses in higher education. In the article, a discussion of their suitability is presented for digitalizing different sessions of programing courses from both the students’ and teachers’ perspective but also of how the constructive alignment with existing learning outcomes can be achieved and strengthened. As a case study, the potential for digitalization is analyzed for course DA343A (“Object-oriented programming, threads, and communication”) at Malmö university, which is aimed at students in the bachelor’s programs in data science with focus on system development and computer engineering.