Investigating the Influence of Real-time Collaborative Programming on Undergraduates’ Programming Knowledge, Behaviors and Attitudes

• In Event: Computer Science Education and Computational Thinking

Abstract

Real-time collaborative programming (RCP) allows multiple programmers to work on the same codebase simultaneously, with changes instantly visible to other partners. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of RCP on 82 college students’ programming performances from process-oriented perspective, comparing them with traditional collaborative programming (TCP). The results indicated that RCP significantly enhanced learners’ programming knowledge while there were no significant differences in general computational thinking skills or attitudes toward collaboration between two groups. Analysis of programming behaviors showed that RCP groups engaged in more effective debugging and exhibited less reliance on the trial-and-error strategy, fostering continuous code writing. These insights highlight the pedagogical implications of integrating RCP in programming education while suggesting avenues for future research into collaborative learning dynamics.

Authors

• Dan Sun, Hangzhou Normal University

• Fan Xu, N/A