Motivating students to learn computer programming using the Learning Activity Management System

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is central to Ireland's goal of promoting itself as a smart economy. However, the government's Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has identified a shortage of qualified graduates to fill roles in the ICT sector [1]. Undergraduates studying for a BSc in Business Information Systems (BIS) at NUI Galway are expected to add to this pool of qualified graduates, but a recent formal review of the degree highlighted poor attendance at lectures and high failure rates as substantial problems. Anecdotal evidence from the 2009-2010 cohort of students suggests that they have little interest in or motivation to study the computer programming components of the BIS degree, components that are fundamental to them becoming highly skilled ICT graduates. It would appear that this is not uncommon; previous research indicates that many ICT students have a phobia when it comes to learning how to program [2], with the effect that they have difficulty in grasping threshold concepts. The aim of this preliminary project was to investigate our students' experience of using the Learning Activity Management System (LAMS). In particular, did LAMS help the students to follow learning material presented as part of an Introductory Java Programming course and help motivate them to grasp threshold concepts. In this paper I will provide a brief overview of how the LAMS was implemented at NUI Galway and present the results of a simple survey of our students' experience of using the LAMS.