Experiences with a CS0 course targeted for CS1 success

Abstract

Five years ago, the idea emerged that rather than presuming whether or not students had the necessary background or aptitude to enter CS1 based on satisfied prerequisites, to actually test students during the very first day of class. The questions then became "What kind of test to administer?" "What options to offer students with identified deficiencies?" and "Whether or not to enforce assessment test results?"In this paper, we report on an approach taken addressing the issue of the preparedness of students entering CS1. Specifically, we discuss the adoption of a first-day assessment test in lieu of completed course prerequisites for determining students' preparedness, and the development of a corresponding CS0 "fallback" course intended to provide the appropriate background for those students lacking the necessary programming reasoning skills, as indicated by assessment test results. We report here on the adequacy of the assessment test designed, the effectiveness of the CS0 course as targeted for CS1 success, and the perceptions of students as to the impact that the CS0 course has had on their ultimate success in CS1.

Teaching computing and programming fundamentals via App Inventor for Android

“…In the literature, the objective of CS0 courses fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) A service course that teaches some practical computing knowledge and/or meets a general education requirement at the institution [24], 2) To improve retention and success in subsequent CS courses, particularly CS1 [25], [26], 3) To provide a broad overview of the field, for prospective majors and non-majors alike. [27], 4) To increase diversity of students in the major [28], 5) To prepare students to analyze and address the current ethical, social and legal implications of the growing ubiquity of and increased reliance on technology [29],…”