Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming

Maria S. W. Lam; Eric Y. K. Chan; Victor C. S. Lee; Y. T. Yu

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming

Maria S. W. Lam, Eric Y. K. Chan, Victor C. S. Lee^*, Y. T. Yu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Computer Science

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Finding bugs in programs (debugging) is a core skill for practical programmers. However, debugging programs can be difficult to novice programmers. Even worse, repetitive failures may defeat students' enthusiasm for learning. The presence of a mentor giving hints and help face-to-face with students will surely make such a learning process much more effective and enjoyable. However, this requires lots of manpower and resources. To address this problem, we seek to capitalize on the potential advantages offered by hybrid learning. We are working towards a system for providing a certain level of automatic debugging assistance to students. Instructors can identify common errors in students' programs using the system and incorporate useful debug-guiding information into it so that students will be prompted with pertinent hints when common errors are detected in their programs. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Hybrid Learning and Education
Subtitle of host publication	First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Proceedings
Publisher	Springer Verlag
Pages	359-370
Volume	5169 LNCS
ISBN (Print)	3540851690, 9783540851691
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32
Publication status	Published - 2008
Event	1st International Conference on Hybrid Learning, ICHL 2008 - City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Duration: 13 Aug 2008 → 15 Aug 2008 http://ihlsociety.org/ICHL2008/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume	5169 LNCS
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	1st International Conference on Hybrid Learning, ICHL 2008
Place	Hong Kong, China
Period	13/08/08 → 15/08/08
Internet address	http://ihlsociety.org/ICHL2008/

Research Keywords

Automatic debugging assistant
Computer programming
PASS
Test cases and annotations

Access Output

10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

Lam, M. S. W., Chan, E. Y. K., Lee, V. C. S., & Yu, Y. T. (2008). Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming. In Hybrid Learning and Education: First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Proceedings (Vol. 5169 LNCS, pp. 359-370). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 5169 LNCS). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

Lam, Maria S. W. ; Chan, Eric Y. K. ; Lee, Victor C. S. et al. / Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming. Hybrid Learning and Education: First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Proceedings. Vol. 5169 LNCS Springer Verlag, 2008. pp. 359-370 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)).

@inproceedings{0f67d871808d4aa0a722c3fc89abfc64,

title = "Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming",

abstract = "Finding bugs in programs (debugging) is a core skill for practical programmers. However, debugging programs can be difficult to novice programmers. Even worse, repetitive failures may defeat students' enthusiasm for learning. The presence of a mentor giving hints and help face-to-face with students will surely make such a learning process much more effective and enjoyable. However, this requires lots of manpower and resources. To address this problem, we seek to capitalize on the potential advantages offered by hybrid learning. We are working towards a system for providing a certain level of automatic debugging assistance to students. Instructors can identify common errors in students' programs using the system and incorporate useful debug-guiding information into it so that students will be prompted with pertinent hints when common errors are detected in their programs. {\textcopyright} 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.",

keywords = "Automatic debugging assistant, Computer programming, PASS, Test cases and annotations",

author = "Lam, {Maria S. W.} and Chan, {Eric Y. K.} and Lee, {Victor C. S.} and Yu, {Y. T.}",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32",

language = "English",

isbn = "3540851690",

volume = "5169 LNCS",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)",

publisher = "Springer Verlag",

pages = "359--370",

booktitle = "Hybrid Learning and Education",

address = "Germany",

note = "1st International Conference on Hybrid Learning, ICHL 2008 ; Conference date: 13-08-2008 Through 15-08-2008",

url = "http://ihlsociety.org/ICHL2008/",

}

Lam, MSW, Chan, EYK, Lee, VCS & Yu, YT 2008, Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming. in Hybrid Learning and Education: First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Proceedings. vol. 5169 LNCS, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), vol. 5169 LNCS, Springer Verlag, pp. 359-370, 1st International Conference on Hybrid Learning, ICHL 2008, Hong Kong, China, 13/08/08. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming. / Lam, Maria S. W.; Chan, Eric Y. K.; Lee, Victor C. S. et al.
Hybrid Learning and Education: First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Proceedings. Vol. 5169 LNCS Springer Verlag, 2008. p. 359-370 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 5169 LNCS).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming

AU - Lam, Maria S. W.

AU - Chan, Eric Y. K.

AU - Lee, Victor C. S.

AU - Yu, Y. T.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Finding bugs in programs (debugging) is a core skill for practical programmers. However, debugging programs can be difficult to novice programmers. Even worse, repetitive failures may defeat students' enthusiasm for learning. The presence of a mentor giving hints and help face-to-face with students will surely make such a learning process much more effective and enjoyable. However, this requires lots of manpower and resources. To address this problem, we seek to capitalize on the potential advantages offered by hybrid learning. We are working towards a system for providing a certain level of automatic debugging assistance to students. Instructors can identify common errors in students' programs using the system and incorporate useful debug-guiding information into it so that students will be prompted with pertinent hints when common errors are detected in their programs. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

AB - Finding bugs in programs (debugging) is a core skill for practical programmers. However, debugging programs can be difficult to novice programmers. Even worse, repetitive failures may defeat students' enthusiasm for learning. The presence of a mentor giving hints and help face-to-face with students will surely make such a learning process much more effective and enjoyable. However, this requires lots of manpower and resources. To address this problem, we seek to capitalize on the potential advantages offered by hybrid learning. We are working towards a system for providing a certain level of automatic debugging assistance to students. Instructors can identify common errors in students' programs using the system and incorporate useful debug-guiding information into it so that students will be prompted with pertinent hints when common errors are detected in their programs. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

KW - Automatic debugging assistant

KW - Computer programming

KW - PASS

KW - Test cases and annotations

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=54249134827&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-54249134827&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

DO - 10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 3540851690

SN - 9783540851691

VL - 5169 LNCS

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)

SP - 359

EP - 370

BT - Hybrid Learning and Education

PB - Springer Verlag

T2 - 1st International Conference on Hybrid Learning, ICHL 2008

Y2 - 13 August 2008 through 15 August 2008

ER -

Lam MSW, Chan EYK, Lee VCS , Yu YT. Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming. In Hybrid Learning and Education: First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Proceedings. Vol. 5169 LNCS. Springer Verlag. 2008. p. 359-370. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)). doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_32

Designing an automatic debugging assistant for improving the learning of computer programming

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Research Keywords

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Cite this