Teaching for transfer of assembly language concepts to C programming using computer-based instruction and traditional instruction

摘要

The aim of teaching assembly language in a computer application course is to introduce students to abstract concepts before delving into programming details. For a novice, it is difficult to understand and learn assembly language in a short amount of time. Hence, the use of a series of computer-based programs may be helpful. Based on this perspective, a computer-based assembly language program LEARNIT was designed to establish a meaningful introduction for students to programming;The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of using computer-based instruction in learning assembly language at the undergraduate level and (2) to investigate whether learning assembly language by two instructional methods (traditional lecture/demonstration/ practice vs. computer-based instruction) was transferred to writing programs in the C language to the same degree;Forty-nine subjects participated in this study. The experimental group consisted of 25 subjects who received instruction on assembly language using the computer-based program LEARNIT. The control group consisted of 24 subjects who received instruction on assembly language using live instruction (traditional lecture/demonstration/practice);Three types of instruments were designed to measure student\u27s knowledge regarding the computer organization, assembly language, and the ability to program in C language. The results revealed that the subjects\u27 performance on a test covering assembly language was not affected by the instructional method (traditional lecture vs. computer-based instruction) in which they participated. Also, the subjects\u27 performance on a test covering the C language was not affected by the prior learning of assembly language between the experimental and control groups.