Teaching abstraction to novices: Pattern-based and ADT-based problem-solving processes

Abstraction is taught to computer-science students as part of a comprehensive curriculum. The students encounter the concept of abstraction in various contexts while learning the different modules, each of which emphasizes some specific aspects of the concept. In this paper we present two instructional approaches, both related to utilizing abstraction in problem-solving processes: (1) pattern-oriented instruction (POI), and (2) abstract data type (ADT)-oriented instruction. We present these methods with respect to their employment in teaching problem solving to novices, and elaborate on abstraction processes.