>>>>> "Sue" == sjj  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

    Sue> I am looking at the applications of spatial skills training in
    Sue> my PhD research, and am interested if anyone has any
    Sue> information about correlations between spatial skills and
    Sue> programming ability. There are some discussions about
    Sue> navigation of codespace being similar to navigating real worlds
    Sue> or hyperspace, and this is where I am coming from.

The BRACE study into success predictors for introductory programming
included a section on map drawing.  In one part of the study, we asked
students to draw a map of a familiar route, and then classified them
according to the map style (survey, route, landmark).  There was some
evidence that students who drew survey maps were more successful at
programming.

We only became aware of Cox and Fisher's work on codespace towards the
end of the study, but noted there are some tantalising connections.  I'd
love to hear more about your research plans, or if there is anything
other help I can offer.

The main resource for the BRACE study is a tech report:

    @techreport{Fincher:Kent-2005,
        author = {Sally Fincher and Bob Baker and Ilona Box and Quintin
                  Cutts and Michael de Raadt and Patricia Haden and John
                  Hamer and Margaret Hamilton and Raymond Lister and
                  Marian Petre and Simon, Anthony Robins and Ken Sutton
                  and Denise Tolhurst and Jodi Tutty},
    
        title = {{Programmed to succeed?: A multi-national,
                  multi-institutional study of introductory programming
                  courses}},

        month = {April},
        year = {2005},
        pages = {65},
        url = {http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/pubs/2005/2157},
        number = {1--05},
        address = {Computing Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury,
                   Kent, UK},
    }

There are also a number of conference papers on the study (the last two
are to appear in ACE'06 in February).  I can forward copies if you are
interested.

    @InProceedings{deRaadt:HERDSA-2005:407,
        author = {Michael de Raadt and Margaret Hamilton and Raymond Lister
                  and Jodi Tutty and Bob Baker and Ilona Box and Quintin
                  Cutts and Sally Fincher and Patricia Haden and John
                  Hamer and Marian Petre and Anthony Robins and Simon
                  and Ken Sutton and Denise Tolhurst},

        title = {Approaches to Learning in Computer Programming Students
                 and Their Effect on Success},

        booktitle = {Annual International Conference of the Higher
                     Education Research and Development Society of
                     Australasia (HERDSA)},
        month = {July},
        year = 2005,
        pages = {407--414},
        address = {Sydney, Australia}
    }
    
    
    @InProceedings(Simon:ACE-2006a,
      author = {Simon and Sally Fincher and Anthony Robins and Bob Baker
                and Quintin Cutts and Patricia Haden and Margaret Hamilton
                and Marian Petre and Denise Tolhurst and Ilona Box and Michael 
de Raadt
                and John Hamer and Raymond Lister and Ken Sutton and Jody 
Tutty},

      title = {Predictors of Success in a First Programming Course},

      booktitle =    {{ACE'06} Australasian Computer Society Education
                      Conference},
      publisher =    {Australian Computer Society}
      month     = feb,
      year      = 2006,
      pages     = '(to appear)'
     }
    
    @InProceedings(Simon:ACE-2006b,
      author = {Simon and Quintin Cutts and Sally Fincher and Patricia Haden
                and Anthony Robins and Ken Sutton and Bob Baker and Ilona
                Box and Michael de Raadt and John Hamer and Margaret
                Hamilton and Raymond Lister and Marian Petre and Denise
                Tolhurst and Jody Tutty},

      title = {The Ability to Articulate Strategy as a Predictor of
               Programming Skill},

      booktitle =    {{ACE'06} Australasian Computer Society Education
                      Conference},
      publisher =    {Australian Computer Society}
      month     = feb,
      year      = 2006,
      pages     = '(to appear)'
     }

Kind regards,

-- 
-- Dr. John Hamer                    [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-- Department of Computer Science    http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~j-hamer
-- University of Auckland            Phone: +64 9 3737 599 x88758
-- Private Bag 92019, Auckland, NZ.  Fax:   +64 9 3677 151

 
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