An epistemology for software tool design that promotes knowledge production: Experiences with students learning computer programming languages

This article presents the results of applying an epistemological model for students learning computer programming languages. The proposal is based on an analysis of learning theories, teaching methods and experiences with groups in promoting learning and research in different institutions. The main focus of the proposal is on applying learning principles guided with an epistemological model using different software tools to facilitate student knowledge acquisition. The implementation of the proposal enables a timely detection of student progress and bottlenecks for the teacher to provide students with supplementary materials and guides towards knowledge and skills acquisition that motivate students to develop innovative ideas. Learning evaluation in this paper is based on verifying if the student has mastered each of the different epistemological categories. The final evaluation is assigned depending on the best category classification reached during learning process.