FAS T&L Community of Practice: Piloting Computer-based Testing in Introductory Computer Programming

Presented by the Faculty of Arts & Science, Teaching & Learning, Arts & Science Office of the Dean 

Presenters:
Jacqueline Smith, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science
David Liu, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream & Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies, Department of Computer Science
Michelle Craig, Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science

Session Description:
A major challenge in teaching computer programming is helping students differentiate between the skills of understanding code someone else wrote and writing code themselves. The ubiquity of generative AI has only made this more difficult. We also know that learning in general, and especially learning to program, can be enhanced by more frequent small assessments.

In summer 2024, we piloted computer-based testing in CSC108: Introduction to Computer Programming. Students wrote supervised bi-weekly quizzes in a realistic programming environment in university computer labs.

Our presentation will discuss our lessons learned with this pilot and our plans for next steps.