Pair programming is a lightweight software development
technique in which two programmers work together
at one computer. In literature, many benefits of pair
programming have been proposed, such as increased productivity,
improved code quality, enhanced job satisfaction
and confidence. Although pair programming provides clear
pedagogical benefits, its collocation requirement and the
limited time during a lab session are serious barriers in the
full deployment and evaluation of this programming technique.
This paper reports on a study that investigated the effectiveness
of Virtual Pair Programming (VPP) on student
performance and satisfaction in an introductory Java course
where students worked collaboratively in pairs on homework
programming assignments, using online tools that
integrated desktop sharing and real time communication.
The results of this study support previous research findings
and suggest that VPP is an effective pedagogical tool for
flexible collaboration and an acceptable alternative to individual/
solo programming experience, regarding productivity,
code quality, academic performance and student satisfaction |