Computer-Based Diagnosis of Student Programming Errors

本研究的目的是探讨一些关键的认知科学，教育和软件工程问题，围绕有效的，基于计算机的，教学系统的发展。这个探索将在构建和评估一个特定的、基于计算机的教学系统debug - assistant的背景下进行。它将为高中生提供关于他们的Pascal程序中的非语法错误的即时在线反馈。为了建立一个能够处理(1)一个学期的作业，以及(2)学生程序中发现的显著可变性的系统，将探索认知科学中的一个关键问题：对于像编程这样复杂的领域，错误和可变性是否可以预测？在DEBUG-ASSISTANT的课堂测试中，将检验为学生提供这种在线帮助的教育效用。最后，将探讨教育软件和软件工程实践的界面设计问题，因为它们与构建可修改的专家系统有关。虽然初步的研究表明，bug和可变性是可以预测的，并且提供反馈在教育上是有益的，但使用DEBUG-ASSISTANT将能够以更系统和严格的方式对这些问题进行调查。这项工作将与纽黑文学校系统的管理人员、教师和学生合作进行。

The objective of this research is to explore a few of the key cognitive science, educational, and software engineering issues surrounding the development of effective, computer-based, instructional systems. This exploration will take place in the context of building and evaluating a specific, computer-based, instructional system-DEBUG-ASSISTANT. It will provide high-school students with instant, on-line feedback on the non- syntactic bugs in their Pascal programs. In order to build a system capable of coping with (1) a semester's worth of assignments, and (2) the significant variability found in students' programs, a key question in cognitive science will be explored: can bugs and variability be predicted for a domain as complex as programming? In classroom tests of the DEBUG-ASSISTANT the educational utility of providing students with this type of on-line assistance will be examined. Finally, issues of interface design for educational software and software engineering practices as they relate to building modifiable, expert systems will be explored. While preliminary research suggests that bugs and variability can be predicted, and that providing feedback is educationally beneficial, the use of the DEBUG-ASSISTANT will enable an investigation of these issues in a more systematic and rigorous fashion. This effort will be conducted in cooperation with administrators, teachers and students of the New Haven School System.