How students measure up: An assessment instrument for introductory computer science
Adrienne Decker · 2007
To borrow from (and modify) Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music, “when a door closes, a window opens. ” That is exactly what happened one day in December 2003 when I walked into Bill Rapaport’s office looking for a new advisor. I was pleased when Bill agreed to take me on as a challenge. Soon I discovered that the window I had jumped through would change everything. My experience working on this dissertation was very different than the dreary picture of drudgery and turmoil that I had in my mind. In fact, Bill taught me more about the process of a dissertation, writing, researching, and expressing my ideas than I ever thought possible. I had often heard rather half-heartedly that a dissertation was an “apprenticeship, ” but I can truly say that my experience has been just that. I am extremely grateful for all of the help and guidance he has given me. I can only hope that I can be as good a mentor to someone else one day as he has been to me. My committee member Carl Alphonce, has provided me with valuable insight while on my committee and also as a collaborator on several projects. If not for those other projects, I might have completed this dissertation sooner. Our collaborations have been