Didactic Framework for Teaching C Programming Language: A Proposal Based on Cooperative and Competitive Learning Techniques

This Research to Practice Full Paper presents a didactic framework for teaching C programming language. The difficulty of understanding abstraction presented by engineering students in computational problems solving is one of the main reasons for numerous pitfalls in the early college semesters. When teaching abstract contents, such as computer programming, it is relevant to include as many practical exercises and laboratories experiments as possible, to facilitate a better understanding. These practical approaches allow the students to achieve, by simulations or by real experiences, good notions of the basic concepts of the subject being studied. To motivate engineering students to be acquainted with formal definitions and high-level abstractions, a Didactic Framework focused on the teaching of the C programming language for embedded systems was developed and tested. Moreover, the students were supposed to develop a software project in teams that work together to solve basic tasks, and that compete at the end of the semester by solving a common programming challenge. This work is divided into two main parts: one focusing on the creation of practical strategies that make easier understanding complex definitions; and another concerning to the motivational strategies through cooperation and competition. The final goal was to increase the students understanding and satisfaction as well as reduce the dropout rates.