Abstract
Tracing is very useful technique in program debugging for not only experts but also beginners. It is preferable to study tracing at an initial stage for a beginner to advance the learning of programming effectively. We have developed the support system named DESUS, which guides beginners of programming to use tracing while debugging. In this paper, we describe the evaluation of DESUS, based on data obtained when using it in actual classes. In the experiment, 92% of learners received the guidance of tracing from DESUS, and 52% of learners actually executed the tracing. Thirty six percent of these learners acquired the tracing technique. The learners who were able to acquire skills by using DESUS accounted for 34%. These percentages have increased compared to the percentages in the 2003 programming class, in which DESUS was not used. On the other hand, 40% of the learners in the experiment were unsuccessful in attempting tracing, although DESUS supported them. Seventy percent of the unsuccessful students attempted to use DESUS while their programs had the compile errors.
