Scaffolding Project-Based Learning of Computer Programming in an Online Learning Environment

Project-based learning is a promising approach to the learning of computer programming by filling the gap between the acquisition of abstract knowledge and the application of knowledge to authentic programming tasks. However, making the implicit aspects of a programming task accessible to learners is a pressing issue. This study aims to address the problem by the design and evaluation of a web based system for project-based learning of programming, which aimed to engage students in realistic complex programming tasks with the support of computer-based scaffolding. 29 college students participated in the use and evaluation of the proposed learning system. The results have shown the promising effects of the system as reflected by the students' perceptions of the system, their knowledge achievement, and their motivation to learn programming using the proposed system.