WebTA: Online Code Critique and Assignment Feedback (Abstract Only)

We present a demonstration of our WebTA tool, which facilitates the teaching of programming by providing automatic critique and grading of student source code. Programming is in fact a complex set of interconnected activities. Learning to design, analyze, implement, test, and revise software is crucial for student success, not just for computer science students but for a broad and growing body of students in other disciplines as well. Our approach is to teach students agile development methods through small cycles of teaching, coding integrated with testing, and immediate feedback. WebTA facilitates our teaching approach by providing automatic critique of student source code. WebTA provides immediate feedback to students and gives them experience with interactive, test-driven development. Students using WebTA are engaged in communication-by-proxy with the instructor. This communication does not replace instructor feedback; rather, it codifies common feedback scenarios, triggered by errors, warnings, or textual code analysis, to assist the instructor in reaching students just when the student is engaged in problem solving and learning. This prompts the student to reflect and refactor in an iterative design process. WebTA compiles student code and executes it over a series of shakedown tests. It also analyzes student performance and generates preliminary grading reports. Students are coached through code critiques and suggestions that prompt them to reflect and refactor. The demonstration consists of a walkthrough of two use-case scenarios: Student use of WebTA as a code snippet critiquer and its use by faculty as an automated grading system.