Fostering and assessing communication skills in the computer science context

ABSTRACT

In accord with a college-wide assessment program at the author's institution, a required major course approximately midway through a student's college career forms the matrix for an intensive project which both develops and evaluates the student's communication skills in discipline-specific ways. For Computer Science majors, the project is a component of a junior-level Advanced Object-Oriented Programming course. Though centered about a semester-long programming project, it involves expectations, guidance, and feedback beyond what is traditional. This assessment instrument has a minimal impact on class time and course content, substantial impact on faculty and student effort, and tremendous impact on learning.

REFERENCES

• 1: Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board. Criteria for Accrediting Programs in Computer Science in the United States (June 2000, Version 0.8, January 30, 1999) Online. Interact. {Sept. 3, 1999}. Available WWW: http://www.csab.org/criteda2k_v08.htrnl.
• 2: Farmer, D.W. Enhancing Student Learning." Emphasizing Essential Competencies in Academic Programs. King's College Press, Wilkes-Barre, 1988.
• 3: Course-Embedded Assessment: A Teaching Strategy to Improve Student Learning. Assessment Update, 5, (January-February, 1993), 8 & 10-11.
• 4: David G. Kay, Computer scientists can teach writing: an upper division course for computer science majors, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.117-120, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 5: Michael, M. Assessing Essential Academic Skills from the Perspective of the Mathematics Major. In Assessment Practices in Undergraduate Mathematics, B. Gold, S. Keith, and W. Marion, Eds. MAA Notes #49, Mathematical Association of America, Washington, 1999, pp. 58-60.
• 6: O'Brien, J.P., Bressler, S.L., Ennis, J.F., and Michael, M. The Sophomore-Junior Diagnostic Project. In Assessment in Practice: Putting Principles to Work on College Campuses, T.W. Banta, et al., Eds. Jossey- Bass, San Francisco, 1996, pp. 89-99.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.1 PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management, Measurement, Performance, Theory

Keywords:
advanced courses, assessment, communication skills, software presentations, technical writing