Making students read and review code

  • Authors:
  • Andreas Zeller

  • Affiliations:
  • Universität Passau, Lehrstuhl Software-Systeme, Innstraβe 33, 94032 Passau, Germany

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 5th annual SIGCSE/SIGCUE ITiCSEconference on Innovation and technology in computer science education
  • Year:
  • 2000

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Abstract

The Praktomat system allows students to read, review, and assess each other's programs in order to improve quality and style. After a successful submission, the student can retrieve and review a program of some fellow student selected by Praktomat. After the review is complete, the student may obtain reviews and re-submit improved versions of his program. The reviewing process is independent of grading; the risk of plagiarism is narrowed by personalized assignments and automatic testing of submitted programs. In a survey, more than two thirds of the students affirmed that reading each other's programs improved their program quality; this is also confirmed by statistical data.