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Programming: A Wicked Subject?

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ICT Education (SACLA 2017)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 730))

Abstract

Studying programming in an Open Distance Learning setup can be more challenging than in a contact setup. It can be characterised as a ‘wicked problem’. Wicked problems are problems that are so complex that current problem techniques fail to solve it. Wicked problems require a kind of unorthodox, innovative or creative way. Programming can be considered a subject that presupposes the existence of a number of cognitive functions such as problem solving. Problem solving in general requires critical thinking, and critical thinking is characterised by logic, decision making, paying attention to detail, the availability of all different types of knowledge. All these are prerequisites in the learning of programming. This paper shows that treating programming as a wicked problem can shed some light onto the question why not many students can be successful in programming.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For comparison see the ‘\(\pi \)’ Pédagogies Innovantes initiative with its ‘FabLab’ at Bordeaux INP, http://pi.espe-aquitaine.fr/eirlab-high-tech-fablab/.

  2. 2.

    This was different in the early days of digital computing when the electronic hardware was scarce and expensive: in those days computer programmers were admired [13].

  3. 3.

    Which is in most textbooks explained only informally and by means of examples.

  4. 4.

    Recall Dijkstra’s striking analogon about calling surgery ‘knife science’ [6].

  5. 5.

    Shortage of formal-grammatical linguistic training in nowadays Secondary Schools (prior to University) might perhaps contribute to the above-mentioned problems.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to two of my colleagues, A. Mathew and B. Esan, for having made their submissions and having added value to this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Apostolos P. Giannakopoulos

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  1. Apostolos P. Giannakopoulos
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Correspondence to Apostolos P. Giannakopoulos .

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  1. North-West-University , Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Janet Liebenberg

  2. University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa

    Stefan Gruner

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Giannakopoulos, A.P. (2017). Programming: A Wicked Subject?. In: Liebenberg, J., Gruner, S. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 730. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69670-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69670-6_16

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