Development of a Web Platform for Code Peer-Testing

TL;DR

This paper presents a web platform that integrates software testing with peer feedback to enhance timely and effective assessment of programming assignments in educational settings.

Contribution

It introduces a novel web platform for peer testing that combines automated program testing with peer feedback, developed based on input from teachers and students.

Findings

Platform facilitates timely feedback on programming artifacts.

Incorporates peer review with automated testing.

Designed through iterative feedback from users.

Abstract

As part of formative and summative assessments in programming courses, students work on developing programming artifacts following a given specification. These artifacts are evaluated by the teachers. At the end of this evaluation, the students receive feedback and marks. Providing feedback on programming artifacts is time demanding and could make feedback to arrive too late for it to be effective for the students' learning. We propose to combine software testing with peer feedback which has been praised for offering a timely and effective learning activity with program testing. In this paper we report on the development of a Web platform for peer feedback on programming artifacts through program testing. We discuss the development process of our peer-testing platform informed by teachers and students.