Development of the Foundation of Programming Design Course Based on Cognitive Learning Theory Combined with Project-Based Learning to Enhance Students' Computational Thinking Ability

Background and Aim: Based on relevant policies and literature, such as higher education planning at home and abroad, policies of the Chinese Ministry of Education, educational concepts, cognitive learning theories, project-based learning methods, teaching strategies, and teaching evaluations, researchers interviewed teachers and students on the current foundation of the programming design course. This research and development aimed 1 to study the background information focusing on the course components of the foundation of programming design course to enhance students’ computational thinking ability. 2) To develop the foundation of a programming design course based on Cognitive learning theory, combined with Project-based learning to enhance students’ computational thinking ability. 3) To determine the effectiveness of implementing the foundation of programming design course based on Cognitive learning theory combined with Project-based learning. Materials and Methods: The sample of this research was 30 first-year students (1 class) majoring in Network Engineering class 1, in the academic year 2024-2025 of Zhoukou Normal University, Henan Province, China. They are derived from using a cluster random sampling method. The experimental design adopted in this research was a group posttest-only design. The research instruments from each Phase of the study were as follows: Phase I: Interview forms for teachers and students on course-related questions. Phase II: 1) Foundation of programming design course based on Cognitive learning theory combined with Project-Based Learning. 2) 12 lesson plans for the foundation of the programming design course. 3) Evaluation form of computational thinking skills. 4) Learning achievement test. 5)Satisfaction questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using mean, standard deviation, and the one-sample t-test. Results: The results of this research were as follows: 1) The researcher reviewed the related documents about the Foundation of Programming Design Course and interviewed the 4 teachers and 30 students about problems of the Foundation of Programming Design Course, and the information gathered was used to develop the course. 2) The course development in six aspects: Course principles, Course objectives, Course content, Course instructional strategies, Course media and resources, and Course evaluation. 3) After implementing through Foundation of Programming Design Course based on Cognitive Learning Theory combined with Project-Based Learning, students’ computational thinking ability (Knowledge) was higher than the determined criterion of 70% at a significance level of 0.05; students’ computational thinking ability (Skills) was higher than the determined criterion of 70% at a significance level of .05. 4) The mean scores of students’ satisfaction after implementing the Foundation of Programming Design Course based on Cognitive Learning Theory combined with Project-Based Learning was 4.838 from a possible full mark of 5, and the standard deviation was 0.176, which was statistically higher than the criterion of 70% at the .05 level of statistical significance. Conclusion: This research confirms the effectiveness of the teaching model based on Cognitive learning theory combined with Project-Based Learning to enhance students' computational thinking ability.