Well-structured PS course design pattern: problem-led lectures integrated with guided practice labs

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The experimental course design pattern organizes each weekly unit around a well-defined programming problem: lectures open with the problem, review prerequisite knowledge, present conceptual models (flowcharts plus pseudo codes) and worked examples, while labs provide varied practice problems, support for searching different solutions (analogical problems, recalling prior programs, breaking problems into sub-problems), and reflection on effective solutions. This integrated lectures and labs "to model CP as a form of well -structured PS process with its required activities".

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Instructors trained to guide PS activities and provide just-in-time support
• A web-based tool presenting practice problems, worked examples and conceptual models

Constraints

• Effects were observed with military undergraduate novices on campus; the authors state the findings "may not be widely generalized"

Target Learners

• first-year undergraduate novice programmers in engineering disciplines

Learning Goals

• well-structured problem-solving skills
• C programming performance

Claims

• Ps Instruction Higher Cp Achievement [+M]
• Ps Instruction Improved Psi Perceptions [+M]

Related Designs

• CIS 102Q Problem Solving Using LEGO Robotics service-learning course with four cooperative labs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Uysal, M. P. (2014). Improving First Computer Programming Experiences: The Case of Adapting a Web-Supported and Well-Structured Problem-Solving Method to a Traditional Course. Contemporary Educational Technology, 5(3), 198-217. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/6125

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	problem-led-lecture-lab-integration
title	Well-structured PS course design pattern: problem-led lectures integrated with guided practice labs
description	The experimental course design pattern organizes each weekly unit around a well-defined programming problem: lectures open with the problem, review prerequisite knowledge, present conceptual models (flowcharts plus ps...
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-01
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — uysal-2014

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