Enhanced Program Comprehension: Individualized Learning of Code Tracing with the Feedback Buddy

Abstract

The increasing importance of programming skills for various professions highlights the necessity of laying solid foundations for these skills in school. One critical step when learning programming is code tracing, i.e., the ability to analyze program code to predict the data changes when the code is executed. Considering the diverse levels of prior knowledge in computer science classes, it is essential to implement tailored teaching approaches, which can enhance the respective learning outcomes. To create personalized learning paths, we developed the tutoring system Feedback Buddy that teaches if-else branches, for loops, and combinations of them using tracing tables. Thereby, the Feedback Buddy adapts its feedback and task difficulty based on learners’ affective, cognitive, and metacognitive states. Extending former systems, our approach focuses on school education and uses 𝑡h growth mindset feedback. Evaluation with 10 positive results, affirming the usability and usefullness of the Feedback Buddy in secondary school education.