Optimising microcontroller based educational packages for educational purposes: A case study using the Parallax Stamps In Class Kit

............................................................................. 2 Section 1: Introduction ........................................................... 4 1.1 Background ........................................................... 4 1.2 What is a Microcontroller?......................................... 4 1.3 How do users develop insight into functionality?................. 8 1.4 Research objectives.................................................. 10 1.5 Goal of the curriculum............................................... 10 1.6 The experiment....................................................... 11 Section 2: Procedure............................................................... 13 2.1 Review of analyses................................................... 13 2.2 Procedure for observational analysis............................... 13 2.2.1 Research introduction.................................... 13 2.2.2 Microcontroller introduction............................. 14 2.3 Program alteration.................................................... 14 Section 3: RESULTS and DISCUSSION....................................... 16 3.1 Interpretation of objective textual analysis......................... 16 3.1.2 Implications of findings.................................... 19 3.2 Findings from naturalistic observation.............................. 21 3.2.1 Classification of observed errors.......................... 21 3.2.2 Slips, Mistakes, Scripts, Mental Models................. 21 3.3 Presentation of observed errors...................................... 22 3.3.1 Unable to construct hardware............................ 22 3.3.2 Unable to construct program............................. 25 3.3.3 Unable to alter system behaviour........................ 27 3.3.4 Experimenter and chapter-end questions............... 28 Section 4: SOLUTIONS to observed errors................................... 32 4.1 Review of observed errors.......................................... 40 Section 5: SOLUTIONS to factors inhibiting insight......................... 41 5.1 Causes of curriculum’s inability to reveal insight................. 41 5.1.2 Functionality of the hardware is invisible.............. 41 5.1.2.1 Solutions to 3 visibility problems............ 43 5.1.3 Solutions to lack of functional text........................ 47 5.1.4 Limitations of paper based curriculum.................... 48 Section 6: CONCLUSION....................................................... 50 Appendix Appendix A: Office Lighting System Appendix B: What’s a Microcontroller?, Experiment 1 Appendix C: Experiment 1 Outline, “What’s a Microcontroller?” References