COOL Programming: Improving Introductory Programming Education through Cooperative Open Learning

COOL -- Cooperative Open Learning -- is part of a teaching approach that uses brain-supporting teaching methods and materials to reduce drop-out rates and improve the learning outcomes of introductory programming courses. Cooperative learning, one crucial principle of the concept, takes several forms, such as peer tutoring, pair programming, and talent exchange. In this paper, we describe the COOL Programming approach, its neurodidactical background, and the qualitative and quantitative results gained so far at our university. Starting in programming courses in our Business Informatics bachelor program, we have observed after two terms improvements compared to previous years and to reference groups, with improved learning outcomes (exam results) and reduced dropout rates.