A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Revised 10/21/20 13
Course Prefix, Number and Title: CIT128 - Introduction to Software Development
Division/Unit: Division of Sciences - Comput er Technologies
Submitted by: Joel Fredrickson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: 2012-2013
Complete and electronically submit your assessment report to your Department Chair/Coordinator/Director. As needed,
a narrative description of the assessment activities in your course.
Course O utcomes
In the boxes below, summarize
the outcomes assessed in your
course during the year.
Outcome #I
Students shall be able to
implement a structured solution
(program or algorithm) to a
small software specification.
Assessment Measures
Assessment Results
ple~e
attach supporting documents and/or
Use of Results
Effect on Course
In the boxes below, summarize
the methods used to assess
course outcomes during the last
year.
In the boxes below, summarize
the results of your assessment
activities during the last year.
In the boxes below, summarize
how you are or how you plan to
use the results to improve
student learning.
Based on the results of this
assessment, will you revise your
outcomes? If so, please
summarize how and why in the
boxes below:
Given the code for an algorithm,
students will correctly predict its
output.
Students were graded according
to their grasp of the Java code to
which they were exposed.
Grades generally trended up. A
common grading rubric was
applied to each project so as to
eliminate project-to-project bias.
NXT Robot programming
projects show that as the
finished number of projects
increases, the students grasp of
"what they are doing", with Java
programs, becomes more
apparent. This is reflected in
grades that are almost perfect for
each class. With an average
GPA of3 .6, the final grade
results were in line with my
anecdotal observations. Up from
3.05 the previous semester. An
impressive 15% increase in
success rate, measured by class
GPA.
At this time, no modification is
needed, however one is
suggested. The addition of Java
program exposure outside the
NXT Robot platform may be
beneficial. Particularly if that
can be done at home, by
motivated students.
Page 1
A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: CIT128- Introduction to Software Development
Division/Unit: Division of Sciences - Computer Technologies
Submitted by: Joel Fredrickson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: 2012-2013
Course Outcomes
Outcome# 2
Students shall be able to
describe the basic processes that
a computer uses to execute
software.
Outcome#J
Students shall be able to design
a software system (prior to
coding).
Effect on Course
Assessment Measures
Assessment Results
Use of Results
Students will correctly describe
and practice how a program
moves from source code to
machine language, including the
tools used at each intennediate
step.
In a laboratory-style course,
students engage with the
instructor as well as other
students to gain the information
they need to successfully
complete each project. This
information comes through
lecture and informal contact.
The students demonstrate their
knowledge by demonstrating
each step of each project for the
instructor.
Students come to this course
with differing end goals. One
thing they all have in common is
the need to complete the course
before moving on in the
curriculum. This motivates
them. In addition, the PBL
content of the course then comes
to front stage, as the motivated
student is similarly motivated to
seek the information necessary
to pass the class, project by
project. Demonstrations, done
in class, are an important guide
to measuring the students'
progress in understanding the
processes that a computer
undergoes. The basic processes
of this outcome are talked about
throughout the semester, so each
student who completes the
projects has had many
opportunities to express that to
the teacher.
There are no planned changes
for this outcome.
As a written assignment,
students will create a high-level
program design document from
a small requirements document.
This design document will be
evaluated for completeness,
efficiency, and clarity.
Flowcharts, pseudocode, code
walk-throughs, written
description and informal
conversations all contribute
content to this item.
Each programming project
required documentation to
demonstrate the student
understood the problem and the
solution. As indicated, this
information was presented
graphically as well as in written
This part works well, there are
no planned improvements.
However, an extension is
suggested. Each student may be
required to keep a portfolio for
viewing at the end of the
semester. This may be used in
Page2
A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: CIT128 - Introduction to Software Development
Division/Unit: Division of Sciences- Computer Teclmologies
Submitted by: Joel Fredrickson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: 2012-2013
Course O utcomes
Assessment Measures
Assessmenc Results
Use of Results
torm anel 1s separate trom the
computer program that was the
end product for each proj ect.
Effect o n Course
place ot a I' ma! Project, to tocus
the student' s attention on what
has happened and how slhe
progressed as the semester
unfolded.
Please enter your name and date below to confinn you have reviewed this report:
Title
Name
Date
Department Cha ir/Coordinator/Director
3 · ~tr J./3'/ -1~
Dean
Vice President of Academic Affairs
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'f Jltf~&.
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