Assessing Programming Ability in Introductory Computer Science: Why Can't Johnny Code?

Robyn A. McNamara

School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Monash University

Date and time: 11.30am-12.30pm, Friday 8th July, 2005

Venue: 10.08.04

Chair: Xiaodong Li

Abstract:

Second year students seem to approach their prac work with attitudes ranging from trepidation to utter bewilderment.  It seems that despite having passed their prerequisite programming courses, many students are ending up in second year without enough programming ability to get maximum value out of their assigned work -- how can we expect them to take a broader, analytical view of algorithm design when they are still wrestling with basic I/O?

It is notoriously difficult to assess programming skills, partly because it is difficult to evaluate how well such assessment is measuring the skills in question.  Computer science assessment theory is still in its infancy, but general education assessment theory offers us some clues.  I will present some background on the current state of the art in assessment theory, and demonstrate that analysis of student marks gives surprising and disturbing results.

About the speaker:

Robyn A. McNamara is currently a Ph.D. candidate at School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Monash University.


Seminar Organisation

Seminars are free and open to the general public. No booking is necessary. If you are interested in giving a presentation in this seminar series, or to make suggestions for speakers, please contact Xiaodong Li, the seminar co-ordinator.