Metacognition in collaborative learning settings is an emerging topic in research on metacognition. This study focused on the development of metacognitive skills during pair programming in order to enhance knowledge productivity. Pair programming entails collaboration between two programmers, each fulfilling a specific role during the execution of the programming task, and has recently been used in educational contexts as a teaching and learning strategy to improve learning in computer programming (DeClue, 2003:49; Preston, 2006b:16). In this study the outcomes of collaborative learning during pair programming are referred to as knowledge productivity, which is measured against the criteria of enhanced knowledge construction, enhanced problem-solving skills, conceptual changes in individual perspectives, commitment to work with the other member of the pair, and application of the results of the learning process (Tillema & Van der Westhuizen, 2006:51,55). To investigate the influence of a metacognitive teaching and learning approach to pair programming on knowledge productivity, a repeated-measures experiment with a control group was conducted among a number of Grade 11 learners who had been implementing pair programming in the learning of Information Technology at secondary school level. At the beginning of the study both groups completed two questionnaires, one on metacognition and the other on knowledge productivity. At the same stage, a number of randomly selected participants from each group were interviewed on the same two topics, using a semi-structured interview approach. This procedure was repeated three months later, without any intervention. During the intervention phase, the experimental group implemented a set of self-directed metacognitive questions that they had to answer while doing a pair programming task. These self-directed metacognitive questions form part of a metacognitive teaching and learning strategy suggested by the researcher. The members of the experimental group also kept a journal to describe how the self-directed questions directed their thinking during the execution of the pair programming task. At the end of the experimental period, the mo questionnaires on metacognition and knowledge productivity were completed by both groups again, supported by the interviews of the same selected participants. The results derived from the empirical study showed that the knowledge productivity of learners programming in pairs can be enhanced by implementing a metacognitive teaching and learning strategy. The metacognitive teaching and learning strategy implemented during this study was then adapted to make it suitable for use by teachers and learners during pair programming. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Metacognition in collaborative learning settings is an emerging topic in research on metacognition. This study focused on the development of metacognitive skills during pair programming in order to enhance knowledge productivity. Pair programming entails collaboration between two programmers, each fulfilling a specific role during the execution of the programming task, and has recently been used in educational contexts as a teaching and learning strategy to improve learning in computer programming (DeClue, 2003:49; Preston, 2006b:16). In this study the outcomes of collaborative learning during pair programming are referred to as knowledge productivity, which is measured against the criteria of enhanced knowledge construction, enhanced problem-solving skills, conceptual changes in individual perspectives, commitment to work with the other member of the pair, and application of the results of the learning process (Tillema & Van der Westhuizen, 2006:51,55). To investigate the influence of a metacognitive teaching and learning approach to pair programming on knowledge productivity, a repeated-measures experiment with a control group was conducted among a number of Grade 11 learners who had been implementing pair programming in the learning of Information Technology at secondary school level. At the beginning of the study both groups completed two questionnaires, one on metacognition and the other on knowledge productivity. At the same stage, a number of randomly selected participants from each group were interviewed on the same two topics, using a semi-structured interview approach. This procedure was repeated three months later, without any intervention. During the intervention phase, the experimental group implemented a set of self-directed metacognitive questions that they had to answer while doing a pair programming task. These self-directed metacognitive questions form part of a metacognitive teaching and learning strategy suggested by the researcher. The members of the experimental group also kept a journal to describe how the self-directed questions directed their thinking during the execution of the pair programming task. At the end of the experimental period, the mo questionnaires on metacognition and knowledge productivity were completed by both groups again, supported by the interviews of the same selected participants. The results derived from the empirical study showed that the knowledge productivity of learners programming in pairs can be enhanced by implementing a metacognitive teaching and learning strategy. The metacognitive teaching and learning strategy implemented during this study was then adapted to make it suitable for use by teachers and learners during pair programming. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.