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Ask Slashdot: Should Coding Exams Be Given on Paper?

Posted by EditorDavid on from the better-than-punch-cards dept.

Slashdot reader Qbertino is pursuing a comp sci degree -- and got a surprise during the last exam: being asked to write code on paper. Not that I'd expect an IDE -- it's an exam after all -- but being able to use a screen and a keyboard with a very simple editor should be standard at universities these days... I find this patently absurd in 2018...

What do you think and what are your recent experiences with exams at universities? Is this still standard? What's the point besides annoying students? Did I miss something?
A similar question was asked on Slashdot 16 years ago -- but apparently nothing has changed since 2002.

Leave your best answers in the comments. Should coding exams be given on paper?

5 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. Comp Sci by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are going for a computer science degree. You must be able to express your ideas on paper, a white board, napkin, back of your hand, ....anywhere.

    The poster apparently needs to transfer to a code monkey program.

    I hear DeGree Mill will take anyone with the $$$$ or student loans.

    1. Re:Comp Sci by ceoyoyo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The ultimate CS test:

      The student gets a paper notebook and a pencil, and is paired with a partner who knows nothing about programming. The student has to explain an algorithm to the partner. At the end of the exam the partner has to independently write down their understanding of the algorithm, with diagrams.

      The best test of whether you understand something is how well you can teach someone else. And unless you're a code monkey, this is probably what you're going to spend half your life doing anyway, whether it's explaining to PHBs or grant review committees. My sister makes custom leather book coverings. She's going to make me one for the cheap notebook I keep in my bag at all times for this exact task.

  2. There's a point to it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't know about the author's instructor or course, but there's generally a point to this.

    * Can the student write a correct algorithm, bug-free without the crutch of running the code. Running code often leads to writing code by trial-and-error without much thinking.
    * Does the student know the language well enough to write code without the suggestions of an IDE?
    * Avoid all technology problems. My computer crashed. My battery's dead. I accidentally deleted the file. I have the wrong version installed.

  3. As a high school programming teacher, I donâ( by FFCecil · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hereâ(TM)s how Iâ(TM)ve adjuated my teaching practice for a world with smartphones: 1) All my tests are open book/note. In a world where you can lookup anything anytime, knowledge is no longer a valued commodity. However, using knowledge to solve problems is. So all my questions involve higher level thinking, with students able to use their notes. 2) My tests and exams are all done on computer through Google Classroom (when in a lab setting). So thereâ(TM)s always a keyboard and screen. 3) I have my students write code in their assignments with an IDE, not on tests. Writing code without and IDE has always pissed me off. So, my tests/exams involve things like analyzing code, eg: hereâ(TM)s some code, tell me what it does. Or, hereâ(TM)s some code with problems, what are they and/or how can they be fixed. Or, when would you use a while loop vs a do loop? Or a local variable vs a class variable? I must note that this form of teaching is entirely my own, after spending much time reflecting on how I think teaching and schooling must adjust for a world with instantaneous access to endless information. This is not endorsed by my government (Ontario, Canada) or school board, and even many of my colleagues disagree. However, something has to change in education which still uses methods developped over a century ago for chalk and slate! I do espouse these methods when possible, and continually strive to evolve my teaching for an ever evolving world, but I certainly donâ(TM)t think this is the final answer in education methodology. Any further ideas you have would be welcome! At some point I would like to evolve my tests/exams to be âoeopen Googleâ, but frankly have no idea how that would work. But thatâ(TM)s my thoughts on next steps from where I'm at currently.

  4. Computer Science != Programming by zerofoo · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have a computer science degree - obtained circa 2001.

    None of my exams during the pursuit of my degree used a computer - all exams were done on paper. Demonstrating understanding of data structures, algorithms, complexity analysis and other CS topics is not coding.

    Coding is the implementation work of computer science, much like construction is the implementation work of Civil Engineering.

    Would you test a Civil Engineering student by asking him/her to build you a bridge?