Analysis of the comparison between the perceptions of adult and traditional major and nonmajor computer science students in computer science classes at the higher education level

Purpose of the Study. This study identified and described (a) teaching techniques and instructional resources preferred by adult/traditional students in computer science (CS) classes, (b) the characteristics of an effective CS instructor as perceived by adult/traditional students, and (c) adult students’ motivation to come back to college.;Methodology. This study used descriptive and ex post facto research to answer the research questions. Descriptive research procedures were applied to Research Questions 1-4. A two-tailed independent-samples t-test at the 0.05 level was used to answer Research Questions 5 and 6. Research Question 5 focused on differences between the needs of adult and traditional CS major students; while Research Question 6 focused on differences between the needs of traditional and adult students who are not CS majors, but are taking CS courses.;Findings. Traditional and adult CS-major students have strongly voiced the need for “Hands-on” teaching techniques. Students not majoring in CS most desirable teaching technique included factors, “Hands-on” and “Internship.” The study revealed that “Hands-on or experimenting with examples in classrooms or computer labs” and “Computer software and Internet resources for learning” were two of the instructional resources strongly recommended by all students regardless of their age and major. The study has affirmed that a level of instructor’s course knowledge was one of the essential characteristics of an effective CS faculty for CS-major students. Moreover, not CS-major adult students also strongly considered a faculty member being prepared in the subject matter. Not CS-major traditional student’s most desirable characteristic was “Friendly and approachable to student and their questions, both in class and office hours.” Traditional CS-major and most not CS-major students indicated that a motivational factor, such as “career or job advancement,” was the main reason for them to come back to college. However, adult CS-major students agreed strongly that “Personal fulfillment” is the integral part of their decision for continuing college. It is important to note that the least desired motivational factor by majority of students was “Family pressure” and “Friends and relatives.”...