Active Learning and Active-Learning-Based Teaching Model - Guide to Teaching Computer Science: An Activity-Based Approach - page 15

2

Active Learning and Active-Learning-
Based Teaching Model

Abstract
This chapter presents an active-learning-based teaching model for implementa-
tion in the Methods of Teaching Computer Science (MTCS) course, which is
based on the constructivist approach. This model is used in most of the offered
activities in this guide. The chapter starts with motivation and rationale for using
active learning in the MTCS course; then, the active-learning-based teaching
model is introduced and explained, including a description of the role of the
instructor of the MTCS course in the model implementation.

2.1 Introduction

As mentioned in the Introduction (Chap. 1), the main purpose of the Methods of
Teaching Computer Science (MTCS) course is to prepare prospective computer
science teachers (the students of the course) toward their future career as computer
science teachers.
In general, courses about science teaching in the secondary school emphasize
curriculum-related issues, addressing topics such as learning theories and pedagogi-
cal methods, principles for the development of scientific curricula, laboratory in-
struction and other investigative learning approaches, professional ethics in science
instruction, and the place of science learning in the pupils' general education. All
these topics are also relevant and important in the case of computer science teaching
to promote the prospective teachers' professional perception.
The recommended teaching methods for the MTCS course, as described in
Chap. 1, indicate that the MTCS course should be built as a teaching model. Ac-
cordingly, the course should be designed in a way that (a) promotes students' posi-
tive learning experience in a supportive teaching environment and (b) enables the

ﾩ Hazzan and Lapidot 2004 ACM, Inc. Included here by permission