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Supporting On-line Direct Markup and Evaluation of Students' Projects

Hussein Vastani, Stephen H. Edwards, Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones

Department of Computer Science Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061

Abstract

Automated grading systems have been in use for several years. These systems automate part of the grading process by compiling, executing and testing student submitted source code. However, such systems often fail to include a mechanism to allow instructors or grader to provide free form comments on student work. One must resort to other methods to provide feedback to students.

This paper presents the development of a feedback mechanism that streamlines the grading process for instructors and teaching assistants. A web-based grading tool has been developed that allows course staff to enter comments for student programs directly through a web browser. This tool is tightly integrated with Web-CAT, an automated grader. The result is a one-stop web- based interface for students to receive all of their feedback.

We present the results of an anonymous survey of computer science professors from different universities on their expectations with respect to TA grading activities for programming assignments, as well as the learning outcomes these professors desire for their students. In addition, we present the results of interviews with teaching assistants in introductory programming level courses to learn about the different grading methods they use when grading programming assignments. Finally, we report on a usability evaluation of the tool itself and discuss directions for future work.

1. Introduction

Automated grading systems have been in use in Computer Science education for several years. Numerous systems have been developed that automate the process of grading by compiling, executing and testing student submitted source code. However, such systems often fail to include support for free form comments provided by instructors or grading staff. Instead, instructors or teaching assistants have to resort to other methods to provide their feedback to the students.

This paper presents a web-based grading tool that allows course staff to enter comments on student programs directly through a web browser. This tool is tightly integrated with Web-CAT, an automated grader5. The result is a one-stop web-based interface where students receive all of Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education

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Edwards, S., & Vastani, H., & Perez-Quinones, M. (2005, June), Supporting On Line Direct Markup And Evaluation Of Students' Projects Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14207