Adapting an Open-Source Web-based Assessment System for the Automated Assessment of Programming Problems

O. Gotel and C. Scharff (USA)

Keywords

Computer Science Education, Reusable Learning Objects, Teaching Programming Fundamentals, Testing and Assessment, Web-based Education, WeBWorK.

Abstract

This paper describes the adaptation of an open-source web-based assessment system to support the teaching and assessment of programming fundamentals. WeBWorK is a system that has been used effectively in mathematics for a number of years and the nature of its underlying engine makes it particularly well-suited to the problems from this discipline. It is accessible for instructors to contribute problems and free for students to use. A community has built up around WeBWorK to share problem sets in mathematics. Within computer science, many of the web based programming delivery and assessment systems are commercial initiatives; students pay to use them and problem sets are administered centrally. This paper describes a project that is adapting WeBWorK for use in computer science and presents initial findings from its use over one academic year. Our on-going and future work is summarized, and the broader potential highlighted.

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