The Roles of Variables
Role knowledge has traditionally been tacit but it can be made explicit and thus help students to understand the ways variables are used in programs.
-- Jorma "Saja" Sajaniemi
It's All About The Patterns
My main working idea for this blog is simple. Most of the code that we read and write follows common patterns. Once we start to recognize these patterns, it becomes much easier to understand and build software. So, lately I've been thinking about how to classify and articulate some of these patterns.
The Roles of Variables
During my research, I found this interesting research paper. The paper Roles of Variables in Experts’ Programming Knowledge, discusses analyzing some code, and sorting the variables into different roles. Then, the corresponding site discussing applying these roles in a learning environment The Roles of Variables Home Page.
I haven't yet read the full paper or website, but the premise is simple. And it aligns well with some of the ideas currently floating in my head. Here's the premise, as I understand it: The gap in learning to code - going from learning basic syntax to being able to build 'real' projects - lies in understanding the patterns of behavior in code. If we can teach better conceptual models for these patterns, then students can learn - and apply their learning - more effectively.
I'll follow up here with some posts about interesting details from the study.