Study Examines Impact on Self-Efficacy and Learning
A study sheds light on the positive impact of web design education on African American students. The research focused on the effects of gender, prior programming experience, and overall perceptions towards computer programming.
“Computer programming has become an increasingly important component of computer literacy education,” explains the lead researcher [attribution needed]. “This study aimed to explore how a web design course influences African American students’ self-efficacy, learning performance, and perceptions regarding computer programming.”
The study involved a 14-week web design course designed to teach African American students multiple programming languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Researchers employed a one-group pretest-posttest design to assess changes in student knowledge and attitudes throughout the course.
Confidence Soars After Web Design Course
The research yielded promising results: African American students demonstrated a significant increase in both academic self-efficacy and web programming self-efficacy following the course. Self-efficacy refers to a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in a particular task or situation. In this context, the increased self-efficacy suggests that students felt more confident in their academic abilities and their programming skills after completing the web design course.
Interestingly, the study also revealed a shift in student perceptions towards computer programming. A majority of the African American students reported more positive views of computer programming after participating in the course. This suggests that the web design experience not only enhanced their skills but also fostered a more positive attitude towards the field.
Gender Gap Narrows, Experience No Significant Impact
The research delved further into potential factors influencing student outcomes. While male African American students entered the course with a slightly higher level of web programming self-efficacy compared to their female counterparts, this difference disappeared by the course’s conclusion. This finding suggests that the web design curriculum effectively addressed any initial gender-based disparities in programming confidence.
Prior experience with computer programming did not significantly impact student learning performance in the web design course. This indicates that the course design was accessible and effective for students with varying levels of prior programming knowledge.
Teaching Multiple Languages in Web Design Courses
“The success of this course in teaching multiple programming languages is a valuable takeaway for educators,” observes the researcher. “This finding suggests that well-designed web design courses can effectively introduce African American students to various programming concepts.”
The study’s overall findings contribute to a growing body of research on promoting computer science education among underrepresented minorities. By highlighting the positive impact of web design education on African American students’ self-efficacy, learning performance, and perceptions, the research underscores the importance of creating engaging and accessible programming experiences for all students.
This research can inform educators and curriculum developers in designing web design courses that empower and inspire African American students to pursue careers in computer science and related fields.
Note: Original authors are welcome to make correction.
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