{"id":237024,"date":"2025-06-18T13:09:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T13:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/?page_id=237024"},"modified":"2025-09-16T22:06:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T22:06:52","slug":"revising-modules","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/actions\/revising-modules\/","title":{"rendered":"Revising Modules &#8211; Action"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=&#8221;Consider the Order of Practical and Theory Material in Modules&#8221; button_one_text=&#8221;Back to All Actions&#8221; button_one_url=&#8221;https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/actions\/&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;25px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#021024&#8243; custom_button_one=&#8221;on&#8221; button_one_text_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; button_one_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; button_one_bg_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_one_border_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||-35px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px||11px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-1px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||28px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;2_5,3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||102px|||&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; border_style_all=&#8221;none&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div id=\"menu-buttons\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <button class=\"sidebar-btn\" data-target=\"action-desc\">What is the Action?<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <button class=\"sidebar-btn\" data-target=\"action-facts\">Quick Facts to Support this Action<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <button class=\"sidebar-btn\" data-target=\"action-implement\">Ways to Implement this Action<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <button class=\"sidebar-btn\" data-target=\"action-eval\">Evaluation Approach<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <button class=\"sidebar-btn\" data-target=\"action-references\">References<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function () {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    const buttons = document.querySelectorAll(\".sidebar-btn[data-target]\");<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    const contentBlocks = document.querySelectorAll(\".content-block\");<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    const dropdownToggles = document.querySelectorAll(\".dropdown-toggle\");<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    buttons.forEach(button => {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        button.addEventListener(\"click\", () => {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const targetId = button.getAttribute(\"data-target\");<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        if (targetId) {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            \/\/ Hide all content blocks<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            contentBlocks.forEach(block => block.style.display = \"none\");<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            \/\/ Show the selected one<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            const target = document.getElementById(targetId);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            if (target) {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                target.style.display = \"block\";<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                const yOffset = -80; 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_builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Description&#8221; module_id=&#8221;action-desc&#8221; module_class=&#8221;content-block&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;gcid-body-color&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-100px|||&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-body-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>What is the Action?<\/h3>\n<p><span>To revise the order of practical and theory material in modules. For example, where multiple theory lectures normally delivered in a row, consider changing the order by mixing in practical\/project classes in-between instead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Facts&#8221; module_id=&#8221;action-facts&#8221; module_class=&#8221;content-block&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;gcid-body-color&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-100px|||&#8221; custom_css_free_form=&#8221;||&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-body-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Quick Facts to Support this Action<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Students find <a href=\"https:\/\/aaltodoc.aalto.fi\/items\/5537e6ee-b600-47e4-91b6-fd0e5d8630b3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">theoretical concepts in computing more challenging<\/a> than practical work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Harvey Mudd <a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1145\/2381083.2381100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">moved the theory module to the end of the computing course<\/a>, rather than having it at the beginning, and this contributed to a raise of 28% in female participation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"testimonial-box\">\n<p>TU Dublin <a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2110.06090\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">revised module sequences to evenly balance theory and practice modules<\/a>, which alongside other actions implemented contributed to almost doubling the retention rates.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Michigan Technological University <a href=\"https:\/\/ieeexplore.ieee.org\/document\/7044198\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">changed the order of topics in a computing course, with more interesting topics at the start of the module<\/a>, and received great feedback as well as a significant improvement of student engagement and student performance in the course.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Implement&#8221; module_id=&#8221;action-implement&#8221; module_class=&#8221;content-block&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;gcid-body-color&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; header_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-100px|||&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-body-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span>Ways to Implement This Action<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ideas on how to revise topics in modules:<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-dropdown\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"toggleDiv('even'); return false;\">\u27a4 Evenly Distribute<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"even\" class=\"dropdown-content\">Depending on the course content, review and reshuffle theory and practice topics in a module to make them evenly distributed;<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-dropdown\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"toggleDiv('popular'); return false;\">\u27a4 Identify Popular Topics<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"popular\" class=\"dropdown-content\">Identify potentially most popular\/interesting topics and place some of them at the start of the module, especially if the module is intended for non-majors of computer science and has an aim to recruit new students;<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-dropdown\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"toggleDiv('prac'); return false;\">\u27a4 Practical Based<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"prac\" class=\"dropdown-content\">Depending on the nature of the module, engage with students in practice-based topics\/projects at the start of the module, and leave the theory topics for the end of it.<\/div>\n<p>\n<script>\n    function toggleDiv(id) {\n      var x = document.getElementById(id);\n      x.style.display = (x.style.display === \"none\" || x.style.display === \"\") ? \"block\" : \"none\";\n    }\n<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;eval&#8221; module_id=&#8221;action-eval&#8221; module_class=&#8221;content-block&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;gcid-body-color&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-100px|||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-body-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span>Evaluation Approaches<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To see the impact on retention, <a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2110.06090\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">retention statistics<\/a> can be measured before and after a change is implemented. Student performance can be assessed by comparing grades of students doing the course before and those doing it after the initiative. Additionally, students can be asked in a survey to self-rate their course engagement.<\/p>\n<p>Proposed ideas for survey statements\/questions in relation to the revised order of materials <em>(for statements suggested is rating from 1 to 5):<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The sequence of practical and theory activities helped me understand the material better.<\/li>\n<li>Doing practical work before\/alongside theory increased my motivation to learn.<\/li>\n<li>The order of activities helped me connect coding tasks with underlying concepts.<\/li>\n<li>The sequence made it harder to follow the material. <em>(reverse-coded)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>The order of activities matched the way I like to learn.<\/li>\n<li>What aspects of the sequence of practical and theory activities worked well for you? <em data-start=\"1168\" data-end=\"1185\">[Open text box]<\/em><\/li>\n<li>What aspects of the sequence could be improved? <em data-start=\"1245\" data-end=\"1262\">[Open text box]<\/em><br data-start=\"1239\" data-end=\"1242\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul><\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;References&#8221; module_id=&#8221;action-references&#8221; module_class=&#8221;content-block&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;gcid-body-color&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-100px|||&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-body-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>C. Alvarado, Z. Dodds, and R. Libeskind-Hadas. <a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/2381083.2381100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Increasing women\u2019s participation in computing at Harvey Mudd College.<\/a> ACM Inroads, 3(4):55\u201364, 2012.<\/p>\n<p>Kinnunen, P., 2009. <a href=\"https:\/\/core.ac.uk\/download\/pdf\/80703688.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Challenges of teaching and studying programming at a university of technology-Viewpoints of students, teachers and the university<\/a>. Helsinki University of Technology (Doctoral Dissertation).<\/p>\n<p>S. McKeever and D. Lillis. Addressing the Recruitment and Retention of Female Students in Computer Science at Third Level, 2021. Retrieved 09\/05\/2022: <a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2110.06090\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2110.06090<\/a>. pdf.<\/p>\n<p>L. Ott. <a href=\"https:\/\/ieeexplore.ieee.org\/document\/7044198\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Explorations in computing: Could this be the key to retention?<\/a> In FIE, pages 1\u20139, Madrid, Spain, 2014. IEEE Xplore, IEEE.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is the Action? To revise the order of practical and theory material in modules. For example, where multiple theory lectures normally delivered in a row, consider changing the order by mixing in practical\/project classes in-between instead.Quick Facts to Support this Action Students find theoretical concepts in computing more challenging than practical work. Harvey Mudd [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":236654,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[27,33,34,38,39,40],"class_list":["post-237024","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-aca1","tag-mang1","tag-newst1","tag-ret1","tag-stim1","tag-under1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/237024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237024"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/237024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237708,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/237024\/revisions\/237708"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/techmate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}