Student expectations from CS and other stem courses: they aren't like CS- majors! or (CS !=Stem-CS)

  • Authors:

  • Karl R. B. Schmitt;Abdel-Hameed A. Badawy;Sabrina Kramer;Katie Hrapczynski;Elise Larsen;Andrea Andrew;Artesha Taylor;Alexis Williams;Spencer Benson;Mara Doughtery;Matthew Miller;Breanne Roberston

  • Affiliations:

  • University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;University of Maryland, College Park MD;American University;Auburn University;Wesleyan University

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

Students enter a course with expectations of what will and will not happen. Understanding student's expectations is important for increasing learning and the success and satisfaction of the students. This paper outlines the development and deployment of a survey to assess student expectations at the beginning of a course. Summary results of 816 students in STEM courses are reported, and speci cally the results from 57 students in two Computer Science (CS) courses. Analysis of these results includes several breakdowns and observations. A comparison of 200-level CS, biology and chemistry courses is given for insight into speci c di erences between CS and other STEM students. Results suggest that CS instructors should consider student backgrounds in courses and whether they have non-CS students enrolled. Also, non-CS faculty teaching CS students should consider the unique mind-set of CS students.