M. Tech. (Information Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences, Vaal University of Technology / The number of students passing computer programming modules at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa at first year level is low. Only with the second attempt do most students pass. This delay results in students completing their three-year undergraduate qualification in four or even five years. One potential contribution towards addressing this problem is the introduction of a collaborative (cooperative) pedagogical approach where students develop software in teams, known in the Information Technology (IT) sector as pair-programming. This study endeavoured to investigate the impact of pair-programming on the academic progress of students registered for the Information Technology qualification at HEIs in South Africa. The study warranted the selection of action research as the most appropriate research strategy. Multi-methods data collection was carried out over two consecutive semesters. The data collection methods included a semi-structured interview, observations and empirical assessment. The participants were students registered for the Information Systems module, which focuses on software development. Pair-programming was introduced to one group of software development students, while a second group continued with the normal solo-programming approach. Semi-structured interviews were held with the students before commencement and after completion of the pair-programming intervention, to establish a change, if any, in the academic performance, attitude and enjoyment level of students introduced to pair-programming compared to those who continued with solo-programming. Observations were conducted throughout the course of the practical sessions over both semesters. Empirical assessments were done by means of tests given to both groups of students during the practical sessions, three tests per semester. Data analysis techniques included t-tests and thematic analysis. The findings concluded that pair-programming had a significant positive impact on the academic progress of IT students, including an increase in the enjoyment level and a more positive attitude towards software development.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-12-13T13:19:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 cleberribeirojunior.pdf: 608218 bytes, checksum: c34a3b5f0b5767d1f66c9a1cc5ee7ca5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-12-15T14:10:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 cleberribeirojunior.pdf: 608218 bytes, checksum: c34a3b5f0b5767d1f66c9a1cc5ee7ca5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-15T14:10:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 cleberribeirojunior.pdf: 608218 bytes, checksum: c34a3b5f0b5767d1f66c9a1cc5ee7ca5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-15 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / As vespas sociais são insetos predadores que se alimentam, principalmente de lagartas, o que revela seu potencial para o controle biológico. A primeira etapa de programas de manejo integrado de pragas é conhecer as espécies em determinado sistema. Portanto o objetivo desse estudo foi identificar as espécies de vespas sociais capturadas em eucaliptal e testar diferentes métodos de amostragem. Doze coletas mensais foram realizadas em plantio de eucalipto em Coronel Pacheco, Minas Gerais, com duas metodologias: busca ativa nas trilhas e plantio (vespas coletadas com rede entomológica) e armadilhas atrativas (feitas com garrafas “pet” de dois litros, com aberturas laterais) presas ao tronco do eucalipto a aproximadamente 1,5m de altitude do solo. Nestas eram colocados 150ml de substrato atrativo: suco de maracujá ou goiaba (fruta, água e açúcar) ou caldo de sardinha (sardinha em conserva e água). Trinta e seis garrafas (12 garrafas por substrato) foram utilizadas por coletas em quatro transectos retilíneos de 80m (T1 e T2- mata-eucalipto; T3 e T4- eucaliptal), cada um contendo nove armadilhas, distantes 10 metros. Os dados climáticos (temperatura e precipitação) foram obtidos na estação meteorológica da EMBRAPA Gado e Leite em Coronel Pacheco, Minas Gerais. Doze espécies de vespas sociais de seis gêneros foram identificadas. Por meio da busca ativa 10 espécies foram coletadas e as armadilhas seis. A busca ativa registrou a maior diversidade (H’= 0,83), seguida das armadilhas atrativas com maracujá (H’= 0,38), goiaba (H’= 0,29) e sardinha (H’= 0,18). O índice de eficiência foi maior com a xvi busca ativa (83,3%). O número de espécies foi maior nos transectos de borda (T1 e T2), próximos à mata nativa. Cinqüenta por cento das espécies coletadas foram acidentais, 33% acessórias e 17% constantes. As espécies de vespas sociais não apresentaram correlação com as variáveis climáticas (temperatura e precipitação), mas espécies enxameantes foram registradas durante todos os meses de coleta e aquelas de fundação independente não foram obtidas nos meses de janeiro e junho. A melhor metodologia é a combinação de duas ou mais técnicas, pois nenhum método registrou sozinho todas espécies de vespas. A manutenção de faixas de vegetação nativas nas proximidades do eucalipto, como uma estratégia de favorecer a ocorrência natural das espécies de vespas sociais é importante. Todas as estações do ano são favoráveis para o manejo de vespas sociais em eucaliptais, principalmente, para espécies enxameantes. / The social wasps are predators of many insect species, mainly caterpillars, which shows their potential for programs of biological pest control. The first stage of the these programs is to identify species found in a particular system. Twelve monthly samples were made at eucalyptus plantation in Coronel Pacheco, Minas Gerais States Brazil, with two methods: active search on trails and the plantation (wasps collected with entomological net) and attractive traps (made with two-liter "pet" bottles, with a lateral opening) tied to eucalyptus trunk at approximately 1.5m high above the ground. One hundred and fifty ml attraction substrate was put: passion fruit juice or guava juice (fruit, water and sugar) or broth of sardines (sardines preserved and water). Thirty six bottles was used for collection (12 bottles for each substrate) in four transects of 80m (T1 and T2 - forest-eucalyptus; T3 and T4 - eucalyptus plantation), each with nine traps, distant one from another 10m. Climates data (temperature and precipitation) was obtained from the meteorological station of EMBRAPA Cattle and Milk in Coronel Pacheco. Twelve species of social wasps of six genera were identified. The active search sample method collected 10 species and six in the traps. The active search obtaining the greatest diversity (H' = 0.83), followed by attractive traps with passion fruit juice (H' = 0.38), guava juice (H'= 0.29) and sardines (H' = 0.18). The active search (83.3%) brad higher efficiency. was The greatest number of species occurred in transects of edge (T1 and T2), next to the native forest. There was no correlation between the social wasps species xviii and climatic variables (temperature and precipitation), but swarm-founding species have been recorded during every month of collection and independent foundation were not obtained in January and June. Those with, the best methodology is the combination of two or more techniques, since a specific methodology did not all species collected. It is important to maintain fragments of native vegetation nearly eucalyptus plantations, as a strategy to increase natural occurrence of species social wasp. All seasons are favorable to manage social wasp in eucalyptus plantation, especially for swarm-founding species.