Improving Teaching and Learning in Computer Science Using Structured Post-Exam Interviews and Remediation

该项目旨在通过使用两个阶段的考试过程来确定学生的知识差距并改善学生在计算机科学方面的学习，从而为国家利益服务。考试对于教育工作者来说是可靠和方便的评估工具，然而，它们会引起学生的焦虑。考试往往是一次性的，导致学生没有动力纠正任何学习缺陷。对学生考试答案的及时反馈可以帮助学生发现知识差距。这个项目将开发和评估一个介绍计算机编程课程的两阶段考试过程。学生将参加多项选择考试，其中他们将为每个选择的答案提供理由。对于有重大知识差距的学生，将进行面试，为学生提供第二次机会来展示他们的理解。面试结束后，我们将为每位学生提供一个行动计划，以帮助他们实现学习成果。预计该项目将有助于提高学生在基础计算机科学课程中的学习成果，这将有助于为学生在计算劳动力中的专业实践做好准备。该项目的目标是：（1）提高学生的学习成果，（2）减少考试焦虑，（3）支持学术诚信。该项目建立在物理教育界以前关于两阶段考试的工作基础上。在第一阶段，将采用改进的多项选择评估，以确定学生的知识差距。第二阶段是一对一的面谈，重点是与第一阶段确定的知识差距有关的问题。然后，教师将制定一个学习计划，将为每个学生个性化。研究问题包括：（1）改进的多项选择题考试将提供比标准多项选择题考试更多的见解？2)面试阶段在多大程度上有助于提高学生的学习成果？为了回答这些问题，考试结果将使用传统和改进的多项选择考试进行比较。学生的学习收益将在有和没有面试阶段进行评估。拟议项目的结果将在计算机科学教育会议和一个由计算机协会教育委员会组织的计算教育社区网站上传播。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by using a two-stage exam process to identify students’ knowledge gaps and improve student learning in computer science. Exams are dependable and convenient assessment tools for educators, however, they can cause student anxiety. Exams are often one-shot events resulting in no incentive for students to correct any learning deficiencies. Timely feedback on student exam answers can help students identify knowledge gaps. This project will develop and assess a two-stage exam process for an introductory computer programming course. Students will take a multiple choice exam in which they will provide a justification for each selected answer. For students who have significant knowledge gaps, an interview will follow, providing a second opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding. After the interview, a plan of action will be provided for each student to help them achieve the learning outcomes. It is expected that the project will help improve student learning outcomes in a foundational computer science course, which will help prepare students for professional practice in the computing workforce.The goals of this project are to: (1) improve student learning outcomes, (2) reduce test anxiety, and (3) support academic integrity. This project builds on previous work on two-stage exams in the physics education community. In the first stage, an improved multiple-choice assessment will be used to identify student knowledge gaps. The second stage consists of a one-on-one interview which will focus on questions related to the knowledge gaps identified in the first stage. Instructors will then develop a plan of study that will be personalized for each student. Research questions include: (1) What additional insights will the improved multiple-choice exam provide over a standard multiple-choice exam? 2) To what extent does the interview stage help to improve students’ learning outcomes? To answer these questions, test results will be compared using traditional versus the improved multiple choice exam. Student learning gains will be assessed with and without the interview stage. The results of the proposed project will be disseminated at computer science education conferences and one computing education community site organized by Association for Computing Machinery education board. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.