Augmentation of learning in introduction to computer science

Introduction to Computer Science (ICS) is a compulsory course for freshmen of the electrical engineering (EE) department at our institute, which lays the foundation for more advanced courses. To arouse the interest and learning initiative of students, an optional “Special Practical Experiment in Computer Science (SPECS)” practice was introduced in 2010, emphasizing the integration of concepts with hands-on practice. Questionnaires on teacher evaluation were given to students nearing the end of the ICS course to evaluate their satisfaction with the teaching and their perception of the benefits derived from ICS. Participants and non-participants of SPECS were compared according to their post-SPECS class attendance and performance in ICS. The academic scores of SPECS participants were significantly higher than non-participants (80.16±5.33 vs. 72.79±10.39 in 2010, p<;0.05; 81.35±4.30 vs. 75.52±6.35 in 2011, p<;0.001). The SPECS not only improved students´ satisfaction with teaching, but also their enthusiasm and performance in the ICS course.