Coders Assembly - Peer Assisted Learning Model for Freshman Programming Courses

Today, computing graduates see a bright outlook thanks to the high demand for skills driven by the increasing importance of technology as the main driving force behind business transformation. As technology continues to grow exponentially over recent years, computing graduates have some of the highest starting salaries in the market [20] [19]. Even though universities have increased production of computing degree graduates in recent years, it is insufficient to fill the jobs available in the market [14]. Therefore, going forward, the demand is likely to further increase. The continued demand for computing programs in universities has led to an increased intake size, thus straining faculty workloads. Universities must consider funneling more resources into computing programs to address faculty’s increasing workload. Past studies have shown that peer learning environments enable increased productivity for faculty and enhanced educational quality for students [27] [15]. In this article, we describe a peer assisted learning model for an introductory programming course — Coders Assembly — designed and driven by undergraduate students in a computing program. Our model centers on four key areas – process, people, content, and technology. We reflect on our experience of implementing this peer assisted learning model and the result of a student survey.