Threshold for the introduction of programming: providing learners with a simple computer model

Computer programming learning/teaching has been an active research area in computer science and engineering. The difficulty level of the teaching/learning process that novices in computer programming report is three-fold, lack of problem solving strategies, misconceptions of code syntax and semantics, and inability to develop an adequate mental model of the machine. This paper examines major difficulties encountered by students taking introductory-level programming courses and it proposes a computer model that sets thresholds for defining basic programming concepts. The study's initial findings suggest that the adoption of the model succeeded significantly in improving students' academic achievement and perception of computer programming.