Enhancing Computing Student Employability Skills Through Partnership Working in STEM Outreach

Enhancing Computing Student Employability Skills Through Partnership Working in STEM Outreach - Springer:


Scott Turner
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29166-6_10


Published in Software Engineering Education Going Agile Part of the series Progress in IS pp 67-71

Abstract

Student volunteering is growing in the UK and elsewhere, and there is an ongoing debate about whether it is really “self-evidently a ‘good thing’” or there is a greater need for reflection to determine whether this statement is true (Holdsworth and Quinn, Studies in Higher Education, 35(1), 113–127, 2010). This paper presents a personal reflection of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) volunteering as a potential route to increasing Computing student’s employability.

References

1.

STEMNet (2015) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network [online] Available at: http:// www. stemnet. org. uk/  Accessed on: 24thJanuary 2015

2.

Sinclair J, Allen A, Davis L, Goodchild T, Messenger J, Turner S (2014) "Enhancing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach; the University of Northampton approach " HEA STEM Annual Teaching and Learning Conference 2013: Enhancing the STEM Student Journey, University of Edinburgh, 30th April-1st May 2014

3.

Holdsworth, C., and Quinn, J. (2010). Student volunteering in English higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 35(1), 113–127.CrossRef

4.

Brewis, G., Russell, J., and Holdsworth, C. (2010). Bursting the bubble: Students, volunteering and the community. Research Summary.

5.

Junkbots (2015) Junkbots [online] Available at: http:// junkbots. blogspot. co. uk/  Accessed on: 24th January 2015.

All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

Learning Smart - a community-driven, best learning resource sharing website.

Dr James Xue from Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, University of Northampton and Ahmed Salim (an MSc Computing student) have developed a community-driven, best learning resource sharing website. 

Originally developed as his Ahmed's dissertation under James supervision, it is now live at  www.learningsmart.co.uk

The following are some of the main features: 

1. Top-five resource list for each subject area is updated at real-time (nearly) automatically based on real users’ reviews (one user can only review a resource once, this stops fake reviews)
2. Learning resources are classified based on levels of difficulty (e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced) so that learners won’t waste time searching for the right resources or reading inappropriate resources.
3. Any contribution (upload and review of resources, interaction with other learners) will be rewarded some points, top contributors are displayed on the home page. As a result, more good resources are expected.
4. Users can create learning groups and other learners at similar levels can join the groups.
5. Messaging service allows learners to discuss issues on a one-to-one basis.
6. Seamless Facebook integration to reach wider audience. e.g.,Facebook login, cross comments on both sites.
7. Personalised reading lists allow learners to create their own learning portfolio.

James Xue "... this site will benefit our students and other learners in general in many aspects. e.g., it’s a good addition to our “Module Reading List” as they are created and reviewed by the community (instead of the lecturers). It encourages collaborative learning..."

Go have a go yourself go to http://www.learningsmart.co.uk/ 


All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

Marking Online Software Assignments

The chapter "Electronic Online Marking Of Software Assignments  (EOMOSA)" is to be published in the forthcoming book  Progress in IS: Software Engineering Education for a Global E-service Economy, Motta, Gianmario; Bing, Wu (Eds.), Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-04216-9. Due for publication April 2014.

Electronic Online Marking Of Software Assignments (EOMOSA) 

Gary Hill and Scott Turner

Abstract

With the advent of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and online electronic submission of assignments, computing lecturers are increasingly assessing code online. There are various tools for aiding electronic marking, grading and plagiarism detection. However, there appears to be limited shared advice to computer science tutors (and students) on the effective use of these tools.

This paper aims to stimulate peer-discussion amongst tutors involved in the assessing (marking and grading) of software code. Many United Kingdom (UK) Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are using electronic marking. This paper discusses the authors’ experience and proposes suggestions for appropriate and effective solutions to the electronic assessment of software code. This will be based on the authors’ experience of electronically assessing code over three academic years and the current advice given to their students.

Electronic Online Marking Of Software Assignments (EOMOSA)

Reposted from: http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/electronic-online-marking-of-software.html

Recently presented paper in Milan at 9th China-Europe International Symposium on Software Engineering Education.

 Electronic Online Marking Of Software Assignments (EOMOSA) 

Gary Hill and Scott Turner

Abstract

With the advent of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and online electronic submission of assignments, computing lecturers are increasingly assessing code online. There are various tools for aiding electronic marking, grading and plagiarism detection. However, there appears to be limited shared advice to computer science tutors (and students) on the effective use of these tools.

This paper aims to stimulate peer-discussion amongst tutors involved in the assessing (marking and grading) of software code. Many United Kingdom (UK) Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are using electronic marking. This paper discusses the authors’ experience and proposes suggestions for appropriate and effective solutions to the electronic assessment of software code. This will be based on the authors’ experience of electronically assessing code over three academic years and the current advice given to their students.

KEY WORDS

Software engineering, online marking, online grading, online assessment, turnitin, computer code.


Some details on the conference can be found at:

9th China-Europe International Symposium on Software Engineering Education, Milan

China and Europe coming to Milan