Computer-Based Collaboration in Middle School: A Sociocultural Perspective on Pair Programming With Mexican-Heritage and European-Heritage Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session 111
  In Roundtable Session: Schooling in the Middle and Then in High School: Studying the Importance of School Settings

Abstract

Despite the promise for improving learning, little is known about cultural differences in children’s collaborative interactions while pair programming. Research suggests that using pair programming while learning to computer program in college level computer science courses increases performance and retention in the computer sciences. In this paper, we present categories for collaborative interactions that were observed during our review of 55 Mexican-heritage and European-heritage middle school student pairs during pair programming. Understanding middle school student’s collaboration can help us understand the socio-cultural processes occurring during pair programming, particularly when working with cross-cultural communities. The results of this study helps identify aspects to consider when trying to provide a productive and supportive pair programming environment for Mexican and European-heritage students.

Authors

• Omar Ruvalcaba, University of California - Santa Cruz

• Linda L. Werner, University of California - Santa Cruz

• Shannon Campe, ETR Associates