CS 1 Clinical Trial: Call For Participation

Call For Participation

The WebToTeach Clinical Trial for CS 1

Supported by the National Science Foundation's CCLI program,
Brooklyn College of CUNY, and Turing's Craft, Inc.

WebToTeach and CS 1

What is WebToTeach? WebToTeach is a self-paced, highly interactive, web-based programming exercise system. Students are presented with programming tasks ranging from writing code fragments (e.g., a declaration, an expression, a statement) to writing loops, functions, classes and programs. The WebToTeach system provides automatic, immediate and accurate feedback on correctness, along with hints on possible errors.

WebToTeach In CS 1: WebToTeach makes it possible for students to focus on specific language constructs and programming concepts without distractions. For example, a student can gain mastery of assignment without worrying about i/o, or gain mastery of array notation without worrying about loops. This mastery will ultimately lead to better preparation for closed labs, lectures, and standard programming assignments.

This is most beneficial to the at-risk student, but also benefits all students. The hypothesis of this experiment is that using WebToTeach in the first half of CS 1 will significantly reduce attrition and improve performance.

Help Us Test This Hypothesis: Fortunately, our claim about WebToTeach can be tested. A controlled study of WebToTeach is possible. The anticipated outcomes are measurable. Finally, because WebToTeach is compatible with nearly all syllabi and teaching approaches, a sufficiently large population can be assembled.

Recognizing the value of such a study, the NSF CCLI program has mandated and funded this experiment. However, we can't test it by ourselves-- we need our CS 1 colleagues around the world to help.

WebToTeach and Instructors: Instructors using WebToTeach have access to a roster that shows student progress and lets them access student submissions for each exercise.

The Experiment

To test the value of WebToTeach in CS 1, we are conducting a worldwide study for CS 1 classes that use C or C++. A large set of short, focused exercises, suitable for CS 1, is now being finalized. We invite the participation of all interested CS departments. The trials will start in the fall semester of 2001.

What We Provide: Participants are given access to the system, including the necessary accounts (ids and passwords) for students and instructors. All content is provided. System response to student work is automatic and immediate. Instructors will have full access to the questions, the answers, and to roster information, including student submissions and submission dates.

What Participants Must Provide: The study will involve CS 1 sections that use the standard CS 1 curriculum with C or C++ as the language of instruction. Participating departments will provide demographic and outcome data (grade distribution, enrollment and withdrawal data, gender data) for both the previous year and the semester of the experiment.

Randomization: All participants are welcome but we are especially eager to welcome participants with multiple CS 1 sections that can be given randomized treatments.

Try a DEMO of the latest version: A hands-on session is worth a thousand words. For access to a demo, contact the faculty listed below.