Quantifying the Relationship Between Projects, Assignments and Grade in Computer Science I
Amruth N. Kumar · 2019
Research Category/Full paper) - We analyzed the data collected in a Computer Science I course to quantify the relationship between programming projects, code-tracing assignments and course grade when online tests and closed lab instruction were used in the course. We found that completion of programming projects was positively and moderately correlated with course grade; each completed project contributed nearly one sign grade to the course grade; the grade of students who had completed at least a given number of projects was four sign grades better than of those who had not and the difference was statistically significant; the mean course grade ranged from F for those who had completed 1 or fewer projects to A- for those who had completed 9 or more projects; and completion of later projects was indicative of higher grade in the course. Similarly, completion of code-tracing assignments was positively, but weakly correlated with course grade; the grade of students who had completed at least a given number of assignments was one letter grade better than of those who had not, and the difference was statistically significant; and the mean course grade ranged from C- for those who had completed 6 or fewer assignments to B+ for those who had completed 11 or more assignments. Concurrence among the course objectives, classroom instruction, assessment techniques, programming projects and assignments may be a pre-requisite for obtaining the results of this study.