Automatic Formative Assessment in Computer Science: Guidance to Model-Driven Design

Marina Marchisio, Tiziana Margaria, Matteo Sacchet

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Adaptive online learning can facilitate students' support by responding immediately to the user's interactions. Good feedback to students helps closing the gap between actual and desired performance. In this paper we analyze how to introduce online adaptive formative learning in Computer Science, a discipline with well documented challenges that are hard to tackle with traditional classroom methods. Specifically, we developed illustrative learning items teaching Model-Driven Design and implemented them in an online system that implements a model for automatic formative assessment developed by University of Torino. The model takes advantage of an automatic assessment system initially designed for STEM disciplines, then adopted for teaching languages and other disciplines too. The key features of the adaptive model supported by the online system are algorithmic questions, availability, contextualization, immediate feedback, interactive feedback, and open answers. These features are portable across subject domains, so the system can be adapted to include new subjects. We chose MDD because it is a topic of Computer Science education connected with Computational Thinking, software design, and formal methods, which are three of the core areas in need of enhanced support.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2020 IEEE 44th Annual Computers, Software, and Applications Conference, COMPSAC 2020
EditorsW. K. Chan, Bill Claycomb, Hiroki Takakura, Ji-Jiang Yang, Yuuichi Teranishi, Dave Towey, Sergio Segura, Hossain Shahriar, Sorel Reisman, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages201-206
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781728173030
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020
Externally publishedYes
Event44th IEEE Annual Computers, Software, and Applications Conference, COMPSAC 2020 - Virtual, Madrid, Spain
Duration: 13 Jul 202017 Jul 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2020 IEEE 44th Annual Computers, Software, and Applications Conference, COMPSAC 2020

Conference

Conference44th IEEE Annual Computers, Software, and Applications Conference, COMPSAC 2020
Country/TerritorySpain
CityVirtual, Madrid
Period13/07/2017/07/20

Keywords

  • adaptive assessment
  • automatic assessment
  • computational thinking
  • Computer Science education
  • DIME
  • formative assessment
  • interactive feedback
  • model checking
  • model driven design

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