Using Web-Based Repository of Testing Tutorials (WReSTT) with a Cyber Learning Environment to Improve Testing Knowledge of Computer Science Students

Hakam Alomari; James D Kiper; Gursimran Singh Walia; Katharine Zaback

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Conference: 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Publication Date: June 24, 2017
Start Date: June 24, 2017
End Date: June 28, 2017
Conference Session: Software Engineering Concepts
Tagged Division: Computers in Education
Page Count: 13
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--29094
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/29094
Download Count: 665

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Paper Authors

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Hakam Alomari Miami University

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Dr. Hakam W. Alomari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Miami University in Ohio, USA. Dr. Alomari’s research interests are centered on static program analysis, more specifically, software slicing. And he has authored a number of IEEE/ACM refereed publications, including a selected and invited paper to a special issue of the best papers at WCRE’12 of the (Wiley) Journal of Software: Evolution and Process.

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James D Kiper Miami University

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James Kiper is Chair and Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Miami University. He teaches a variety of courses across the CS and SE curricula. His research is in the areas of software testing, software risk assessment, design rationale, and computer science and software engineering teaching and learning.

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Gursimran Singh Walia

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Gursimran S. Walia is an associate professor of Computer Science at North Dakota State University. His main research interests include empirical software engineering, software engineering education, human factors in software engineering, and software quality. He is a member of the IEEE Computer Society. Contact him at gursimran.walia@ndsu.edu

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Katharine Zaback

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Abstract

Software systems must be maintained to remain useful, and testing the system after a particular maintenance task is a key aspect for any system. As systems grow, maintenance typically becomes more complicated and costly. Thus, software developers must be well-trained in software testing to plan and carry out effective software testing activities. To achieve a better trained workforce in the area of software testing, curricula at academic institutions need to be integrated with software validation techniques, including software testing. The problem of integrating software testing concepts and related techniques into programming and SE courses is still an open research problem. To the end of improved training in software testing for our students, this paper presents empirical studies conducted in multiple undergraduate CS/SE programming courses at two large public universities. The primary objective of studies was to evaluate the impact of using the Web-Based Repository of Software Testing Tool (WReSTT) on the undergraduate students’ acquisition of testing knowledge and proficiency of testing techniques and tools. The testing courses ranged from CSI and CSII (Introductory CS courses); Modern Software Development (200 level), Computer Architecture (200 level), Data Communications and Networks (200 level), and Systems Testing and Maintenance (300 level). Each study utilized a classic pretest-posttest design wherein subjects were pretested at the beginning of the class (week 0) followed by introduction to WReSTT that the students utilized to complete their programming assignments, browse through learning objects and video tutorials mostly focused on JUnit (unit testing framework) and EclEmma (code coverage tools). Near the completion of the semester, subjects were post-tested using the same instrument (that they had been pretested) to evaluate their improvement in knowledge of testing concepts and tools. The results indicate that (1) WReSTT helped students improve their understanding and use of software testing techniques and tools, (2) the results from the post study surveys showed that students found WReSTT to be a useful resource for learning software testing techniques and tools. Specifically, students indicated that the tutorials in WReSTT helped them understand both software testing concepts and tools, and that tutorials in WReSTT helped students during the course assignments and earn a better grade in the class. Students also indicated that the current version of WReSTT was easy to use and they would recommend its use to other undergraduate students.

Citation
Format

Alomari, H., & Kiper, J. D., & Walia, G. S., & Zaback, K. (2017, June), Using Web-Based Repository of Testing Tutorials (WReSTT) with a Cyber Learning Environment to Improve Testing Knowledge of Computer Science Students Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--29094

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Software systems must be maintained to remain useful, and testing the system after a particular maintenance task is a key aspect for any system. As systems grow, maintenance typically becomes more complicated and costly. Thus, software developers must be well-trained in software testing to plan and carry out effective software testing activities. To achieve a better trained workforce in the area of software testing, curricula at academic institutions need to be integrated with software validation techniques, including software testing. The problem of integrating software testing concepts and related techniques into programming and SE courses is still an open research problem. To the end of improved training in software testing for our students, this paper presents empirical studies conducted in multiple undergraduate CS/SE programming courses at two large public universities. The primary objective of studies was to evaluate the impact of using the Web-Based Repository of Software Testing Tool (WReSTT) on the undergraduate students’ acquisition of testing knowledge and proficiency of testing techniques and tools. The testing courses ranged from CSI and CSII (Introductory CS courses); Modern Software Development (200 level), Computer Architecture (200 level), Data Communications and Networks (200 level), and Systems Testing and Maintenance (300 level). Each study utilized a classic pretest-posttest design wherein subjects were pretested at the beginning of the class (week 0) followed by introduction to WReSTT that the students utilized to complete their programming assignments, browse through learning objects and video tutorials mostly focused on JUnit (unit testing framework) and EclEmma (code coverage tools). Near the completion of the semester, subjects were post-tested using the same instrument (that they had been pretested) to evaluate their improvement in knowledge of testing concepts and tools. The results indicate that (1) WReSTT helped students improve their understanding and use of software testing techniques and tools, (2) the results from the post study surveys showed that students found WReSTT to be a useful resource for learning software testing techniques and tools. Specifically, students indicated that the tutorials in WReSTT helped them understand both software testing concepts and tools, and that tutorials in WReSTT helped students during the course assignments and earn a better grade in the class. Students also indicated that the current version of WReSTT was easy to use and they would recommend its use to other undergraduate students. 
AU  - Hakam Alomari
AU  - James D Kiper
AU  - Gursimran Singh Walia
AU  - Katharine Zaback
CY  - Columbus, Ohio
DA  - 2017/06/24
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Using Web-Based Repository of Testing Tutorials (WReSTT) with a Cyber Learning Environment to Improve Testing Knowledge of Computer Science Students
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/29094
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--29094
ER  -