Grading large programming courses can be time-consuming and complex. One instructor shares how a new platform helped simplify assignment design, provide instant feedback, and streamline the grading process, ultimately saving time and improving the student experience.
A New Approach to Grading
Jason Grant is an Assistant Professor of Computing at Villanova University. He has been teaching computer science for over eight years, focusing on foundational courses like Algorithms and Data Structures I and II. These courses are programming-intensive, with large class sizes that make grading a time-consuming process.
When Jason’s university began transitioning to a new learning management system he decided to explore tools to streamline his workload. During his search, he came across CodeGrade, which piqued his interest as an option to simplify grading and improve feedback for students.
After an initial meeting, Jason was given access to a sandbox environment in CodeGrade. Over the course of a month, he familiarized himself with features like autograding and rubrics. Eager to implement these into his teaching, he worked on setting up his courses, and soon Jason had fully adopted CodeGrade in standalone mode.
Rethinking Assignment Design
One of the biggest impacts CodeGrade had on Jason’s teaching approach was in creating assessments. He admits, "It forces you to change the way you design your assignments." Before adopting the platform, he would often send out assignments to students and only afterward think about how to grade them.
He explains how the platform has made him more thoughtful in the way he evaluates students, ensuring his grading criteria are clearly defined from the outset. “Now I think about the assignment, the tests, and the rubrics at once. I have to plan the entire thing. It’s good because I’m thinking about how to test students as I design the assignment. I’m more intentional about the things I’m looking for.”
Getting started
Jason’s onboarding experience was straightforward. Miguel from the CodeGrade team provided an overview on the first day. Jason found the tutorial resources—both written guides and videos—beneficial and after the initial introduction, he felt confident enough to dive in and start exploring on his own.
Two months later…
At the end of the semester, we followed up with Jason to hear about his experiences using CodeGrade.
A Streamlined Grading Process
One of the most significant changes Jason observed was how CodeGrade transformed his grading workflow. While setting up assignments with autograding and rubrics required more effort upfront, it simplified the grading process overall. “Once the assignments are set up, it’s very hands-off,” he explained.
The structured nature of CodeGrade also allowed Jason to provide partial credit more effectively using semantic testing, which he found particularly useful for his programming-heavy courses.
Better Support for Students
CodeGrade’s instant feedback feature stood out as a key benefit for Jason’s students. They could quickly see whether their code worked as intended, which helped them identify and fix issues more independently. This was especially valuable during after-hours study sessions when Jason wasn’t available to assist
Jason also found that the structured design of his assignments, informed by CodeGrade’s setup process, helped guide students through the material more effectively. For beginners, this combination of clear expectations and immediate feedback was a significant advantage.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, Jason noted a few insights that could help other educators considering CodeGrade:
- Plan Ahead: Prepare your assignments thoroughly. It pays off in the long run by simplifying grading and allowing for reuse in future courses.
- Use Support Resources: Jason recommended contacting the support team early in the adoption process. If there is something you want to do, they are there to help.
- Embrace Structure: Jason found it particularly useful for introductory courses where students benefit from clear guidance.
- And finally, “Take the leap!”
In conclusion
By the end of the semester, Jason had fully integrated CodeGrade into his teaching. The platform not only made grading more efficient but also encouraged him to approach assignment design in a more thoughtful and intentional way.
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