October 20, 2005 Using the Kolbe A ™ Conative Index to Study Retention of Computer Science Students Robert Lingard Brenda Timmerman Elizabeth Berry California State University, Northridge

October 20, 2005 Overview The Retention Problem What Does the Kolbe A ™ Conative Index Measure? Results From Previous Studies With Upper Division Students? Current Studies With Freshmen? Can We Improve Retention by Changing the Way We Teach? Conclusions and Recommendations

October 20, 2005 The Retention Problem At CSUN fewer than 20% of students who decide to major in Computer Science as freshmen complete the program. Many Colleges and Universities report that the graduation rate in Computer Science is the lowest, or near the lowest, of all majors. In order to improving retention we need to understand why students drop out.

October 20, 2005 The Kolbe Concept ® It identifies the conative instincts that drive the way one operates, e.g., the way one approaches problem solving. It focuses on strengths and provides insight on how to help people be more productive and effective It is universal, unbiased, and an individual’s Kolbe index tends to remain the same over time

October 20, 2005 The Kolbe Instinctive Talents Fact Finder Collects data, asks questions, probes Follow Thru Makes schedules, plans ahead Quick Start Innovates, takes risks, improvises Implementor Builds and constructs, creates models

October 20, 2005 Sample “Kolbe” Results

October 20, 2005 Kolbe Profile of Upper Division Computer Science Students

October 20, 2005 Kolbe Profile of Marketing Managers

October 20, 2005 Kolbe Profile Comparisons

October 20, 2005 Kolbe Profile Comparisons

October 20, 2005 Comparison of Conative Talents between Instructors and Students

October 20, 2005 Comparison of Implementors with Other Students in 1st CS Course

October 20, 2005 Weed out or Cultivate Students have a wide diversity of preparation and Kolbe profiles Frequently beginning Computer Science courses are directed at the well prepared and/or “fact-finder” students, weeding out the others

October 20, 2005 How Do We Cultivate? Studies have shown that improved teaching techniques have increased both achievement and retention This is important because many of the less prepared students are women and/or economically disadvantaged

October 20, 2005 What are Improved Teaching/Learning Techniques? How to choose possible alternative techniques? Trial and Error – finding out what works Kolbe A™ Index – get to what might work quicker

October 20, 2005 US Military Academy, West Point All students have to pass an introductory programming course, regardless of major Robots are used to help students learn fundamental programming concepts They claim that this approach increases retention and all students benefit from it

October 20, 2005 Stagecast Software Stagecast Creator™ enables nonprogrammers to construct interactive visual simulations Stagecast claims simulations are powerful teaching tools that make abstract concepts concrete.

October 20, 2005 Above Examples Are Consistent with Kolbe A™ Findings They provide a learning environment that is not only more comfortable for the Kolbe implementors, but increases performance of all students They make abstractions more tangible for those who need some concreteness while providing additonal stimulation to all students

October 20, 2005 Conclusions The Kolbe A™ Index is a useful tool for suggesting teaching techniques that may improve the retention of beginning programming students. We will undertake to develop, apply, and assess specific approaches to teaching and learning that make programming concepts less abstract. To provide concrete, hands on learning experiences for students, tools like robot kits and visual simulation software may be useful. The wide differences in levels of preparedness among beginning students must be addressed.