Share Paper: An Analysis of the Influence on Students’ Mathematics Skills Participating in the Bootstrap Programming Course

  1. Geoff Wright, Brigham Young University, College of Engineering, United States
  2. Robert Lee, Brigham Young University, College of Engineering, United States
  3. Peter Rich, Brigham Young University, Instructional Psychology and Technology, United States
  4. Keith Leatham, Brigham Young University, Mathematics Education, United States
Tuesday, October 18 2:45 PM-3:45 PM Waimea Canyon

Abstract: Programming instruction and curriculum has the potential to positively influence student mathematic understanding and ability (NCTM, 2008, p. 52). This study outlines an innovative programming software and course, Bootstrap, and analyzes its influence on students’ mathematics skills. The primary basis of the analysis is based on a mathematics inventory assessent administered to junior high students pre and post participation in the Bootstrap course. Bootstrap is functional programming language (and curriculum) based on TeachScheme! developed by Matthias Felleisen at Rice University. Felleisen (2010) states that “the program (Bootstrap) currently works with students in some ten underserved neighborhoods across the U.S.” (p. ...