Efficacy of frequent, secure, automated testing on student academic performance

This thesis discusses the effects of frequent, secure automated testing on student performance in CS 421, a class titled Programming Languages and Compilers at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, and examines in-depth the tools utilized to enable such testing. In particular, it looks into the use of PrairieLearn and the Computer-based Testing Center as a testing platform and service to determine the ramifications of automated testing. It was found that students experienced up to a 12 percent increase in their final grade in Fall 2015 over students in Fall 2014. Additionally, it was shown that the use of custom-built tools on PrairieLearn in enabling testing of Programming Languages-related concepts did not adversely affect and in some cases, statistically significantly increased student grades.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Nip, Terence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gunter, Elsa L.

• computer science
• education
• automated testing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Terence Nip

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90664

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/90664