View in EDS

Exploring the Role of Errors in Programming Learning

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Exploring the Role of Errors in Programming Learning
Language: English
Authors: Alyssa Shuang Sha (ORCID 0000-0001-6368-3388), Bernardo Pereira Nunes (ORCID 0000-0001-9764-9401), Jiayi Shen (ORCID 0009-0007-9972-2917)
Source: ACM Transactions on Computing Education. 2026 26(2).
Availability: Association for Computing Machinery. 1601 Broadway 10th Floor, New York, NY 10119. Tel: 800-342-6626; Tel: 212-626-0500; Fax: 212-944-1318; e-mail: acmhelp@acm.org; Web site: http://toce.acm.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Programming, Computer Science Education, Error Patterns, Data Analysis
DOI: 10.1145/3778857
ISSN: 1946-6226
Abstract: Computer science students often perceive programming errors as indicators of failure rather than learning opportunities, resulting in frustration, anxiety and dropout. This study investigates how early programming errors can contribute to students' subsequent learning. We hypothesise that the number of errors made by students in the initial learning stage, which is distinct across different learning concepts, is positively correlated with their future learning. Our hypothesis is tested using a real-world dataset consisting of 601 programming questions that were practised by 632 students, with results validated using the ITAP dataset. Through statistical analysis controlling for pre-practice understanding, we identify error-based intervention indicators--specific error thresholds that correlate with maximum improvement rates for different programming concepts. These findings provide evidence-based perspectives on the pedagogical role of errors in computer science education, suggesting concept-specific and proficiency-based instructional approaches for programming education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504363
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1504363
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Exploring the Role of Errors in Programming Learning
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alyssa+Shuang+Sha%22">Alyssa Shuang Sha</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6368-3388">0000-0001-6368-3388</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bernardo+Pereira+Nunes%22">Bernardo Pereira Nunes</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9764-9401">0000-0001-9764-9401</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiayi+Shen%22">Jiayi Shen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9972-2917">0009-0007-9972-2917</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22ACM+Transactions+on+Computing+Education%22"><i>ACM Transactions on Computing Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 26(2).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Association for Computing Machinery. 1601 Broadway 10th Floor, New York, NY 10119. Tel: 800-342-6626; Tel: 212-626-0500; Fax: 212-944-1318; e-mail: acmhelp@acm.org; Web site: http://toce.acm.org/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 23
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Programming%22">Programming</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Science+Education%22">Computer Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Error+Patterns%22">Error Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Analysis%22">Data Analysis</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1145/3778857
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1946-6226
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Computer science students often perceive programming errors as indicators of failure rather than learning opportunities, resulting in frustration, anxiety and dropout. This study investigates how early programming errors can contribute to students' subsequent learning. We hypothesise that the number of errors made by students in the initial learning stage, which is distinct across different learning concepts, is positively correlated with their future learning. Our hypothesis is tested using a real-world dataset consisting of 601 programming questions that were practised by 632 students, with results validated using the ITAP dataset. Through statistical analysis controlling for pre-practice understanding, we identify error-based intervention indicators--specific error thresholds that correlate with maximum improvement rates for different programming concepts. These findings provide evidence-based perspectives on the pedagogical role of errors in computer science education, suggesting concept-specific and proficiency-based instructional approaches for programming education.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1504363
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1504363
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1145/3778857
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Programming
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Science Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Error Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data Analysis
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Exploring the Role of Errors in Programming Learning
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Alyssa Shuang Sha
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Bernardo Pereira Nunes
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jiayi Shen
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1946-6226
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 26
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: ACM Transactions on Computing Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1