There is a fascinating and unexpected connection between so-called spatial skills and success in programming. Indeed, it is relatively cheap to train spatial skills (SS), and this has a consequent effect on outcomes across all STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. This is an extraordinary educational outcome, and it merits further investigation.
In the existing literature on spatial skills and computer science, testing and training has been carried out in introductory programming classes. In this project, you will explore a different context for testing and training – that of the algorithms and data structures course at IFI (IN2010). This may well be a better context – more motivating for students – as spatial skills appear to be related to a person’s ability to form, store, retrieve and analyse non-verbal structured information – and of course, this is what data structures are!
As one of the supervisors is primarily based in Scotland, much of the supervision will be via Zoom and the main language of communication will be English. It is preferable if the master student is able to communicate with students in Norwegian, but this is not an absolute requirement. The master student will need to be physically present at IFI in order to organize the SS training for one or more groups of students. For each group of students, the typical SS training setup consists of 10 hours in total, spread across 5-10 weeks.
Literature to start with: Jack Parkinson et al, Practice Report: Six Studies of Spatial Skills Training in Introductory Computer Science, ACM Inroads, Volume 12, Issue 4, pp. 18-29.