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Abstract

This study examines the impact of a situated learning class framework on student learning and sense of belonging in a first-year introductory computer programming course offered at an urban commuter campus. The framework provided students opportunities to engage in hands-on activities embedded in authentic contexts facilitated or led by students from computer science clubs and a service-learning program. Our results suggest that 1) participation in peer interactions within the classroom helped students build learning communities and networks beyond the classroom and strengthened their development of a professional identity; 2) through redesigning curriculum and pedagogy to accommodate students’ needs and learning styles, college and university faculty may cultivate a collaborative culture and a sense of belonging at various levels: classroom, department, and campus.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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