DocumentCode :
1598709
Title :
Empirical assessment of languages for teaching concurrency: Methodology and application
Author :
Nanz, Sebastian ; Torshizi, Faraz ; Pedroni, Michela ; Meyer, Bertrand
Author_Institution :
ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
fYear :
2011
Firstpage :
477
Lastpage :
481
Abstract :
Concurrency has been rapidly gaining importance in computing, and correspondingly in computing curricula. Concurrent programming is, however, notoriously hard even for expert programmers. New language designs promise to make it easier, but such claims call for empirical validation. We present a methodology for comparing concurrent languages for teaching purposes. A critical challenge is to avoid bias, especially when (as in our example application) the experimenters are also the designers of one of the approaches under comparison. For a study performed as part of a course, it is also essential to make sure that no student is penalized. The methodology addresses these concerns by using self-study material and applying an evaluation scheme that minimizes opportunities for subjective decisions. The example application compares two object-oriented concurrent languages: multithreaded Java and SCOOP. The results show an advantage for SCOOP even though the study participants had previous training in writing multithreaded Java programs. The lessons should be of use to educators interested in teaching concurrency, to researchers looking for objective ways of assessing teaching techniques, and to researchers who want to avoid bias in assessing an approach or tool that they have themselves designed.
Keywords :
Java; computer science education; concurrent engineering; educational courses; formal languages; multi-threading; teaching; SCOOP; concurrent programming; expert programmer; language design; multithreaded Java program; object oriented concurrent language; selfstudy material; teaching concurrency; Concurrent computing; Instruction sets; Java; Materials; Synchronization; Training;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T), 2011 24th IEEE-CS Conference on
Conference_Location :
Honolulu, HI
ISSN :
1093-0175
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4577-0349-2
Electronic_ISBN :
1093-0175
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/CSEET.2011.5876128
Filename :
5876128
Link To Document :
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