Abstract
This study investigated changes in student attitudes toward computing in three different computing courses. The courses were “typical” semester-long university introductory computing courses. The courses have no prior computing prerequisites. The first course provided an introduction to computers, computer science, and society. The second course was a hands-on course focusing on the mastery of the Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access). The third course introduced students to programming using Visual Basic. To investigate whether attitudes changed in any of the courses, an attitude survey was administered the first and last week of the courses. Dependent samples t-test showed a positive attitude change in the second course, and no change in the first and third course. To better understand why attitudes changed in one course, but not the others, several students with the most dramatic attitude changes were interviewed, and focus groups were held with both students and the faculty teaching the courses.
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