Web Based Collaboration for Introductory Programming Courses

Abstract: This paper addresses the need for web-based collaborative tools within introductory Computer Science and Engineering programming courses. The World Wide Web has been a tremendous influence in how we present Computer Science and Engineering material to students. The Web’s influence can range from the passive presentation online lecture materials to active demonstration of Computer Science and Engineering principles through Applet based animations and simulations. One of the most powerful uses of the Web is to foster collaboration and communication among students; a skill often overlooked in introductory classes. Although there are several web-based threaded discussion systems available, the collaborative method is based on purely textual communication. In order to increase the usability of such web-based collaborative systems, the focus must be changed from a textual framework to one that supports better integration of both text and active media content. To this end, we have adapted previous work in media based collaborative courseware to target the needs of the Computer Science and Engineering population. The new system allows students to submit, view, and collaborate on projects using both individual and group work models. The system has been re-engineered to allow students to develop real-world techniques such as specification reading, component integration, and user interface design, while minimizing instructor effort to maintain the system. To verify the design effectiveness of the new system, we have been performing usability tests with focus groups