An Upcoming Study of Potential Success Factors for an Introductory Model-Driven Programming Course

In order to improve the course design of an objects-first CS1 programming course we will study potential indicators of success for such a course. The general interest for success factors for a programming course has been toward more knowledge-oriented factors like math score and previous programming experience. Unfortunately, improving these factors is out of our control. We therefore increase the factors to include the more general factors of motivation and power of abstraction as well as the “soft” elements of emotional health and social well-being — factors which to a certain extent is improvable within the introductory programming course. In this paper, we explain and discuss the design of the research, including our understanding of the factors under study. Because of the variety of interpretations of “objects-first”, the present research is necessary as a supplement to earlier research in order to make generalizable results on the success factors for objects-first programming.