Integrating the teaching of algorithmic patterns into computer science teacher preparation programs

  • Authors:

  • Noa Ragonis

  • Affiliations:

  • Beit Berl College, Beit Berl, Israel

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 17th ACM annual conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

The concept of patterns appears in the teaching of computer science in three main forms: algorithmic patterns, design patterns, and pedagogical patterns. A pattern is the identification of an abstract structure that can be further used in other, different contexts. This paper refers to algorithmic patterns as a tool that may be applied in computer science problem-solving processes, suggests an activity aimed at imparting algorithmic patterns to prospective computer science teachers, and presents part of an investigation of prospective teachers' understanding of algorithmic patterns. The main findings of the research support the inclusion of this topic in computer science teacher preparation programs, present the aspects of the concept for which the prospective teachers show meaningful understanding, and expose difficulties they experience when coping with patterns and composing recursion patterns. The focus is on abstract abilities demonstrated by computer science prospective teachers in the different stages of the activity.