The Advanced Placement Computer Science Practice System: Development of an Instructional Assessment Model APCS AP

Author(s):

Bennett, Randy Elliot; Wadkins, J. R. Jefferson

Publication Year:

1994

Report Number:

RM-94-20

Source:

ETS Research Memorandum

Document Type:

Report

Page Count:

80

Subject/Key Words:

Advanced Placement Computer Science Practice System, Advanced Placement Program (AP), Computer Science Education, Computer Software, Instructional Assessment, Program Development

Abstract

The goal of this project was to complete the developments necessary to test an approach to instructional assessment based on the Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) Practice System. The APCS System asks introductory computer science students to write short Pascal programs and gives immediate feedback about their problem solutions. Development work included refining the instructional model on which the system is based, improving the feedback facilities, and revising the teachers' manual, as well as creating a second product, the APCS Problem Package. A sensible next step would be to field test the APCS System and Problem Package. This trial might provide more definitive information about whether C++ versions of these products should be produced to help APCS teachers and students make the planned transition to this new language in 1997.

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