Evaluating a pass/fail grading model in first year undergraduate computing.

Zarb, Mark; McDermott, Roger; Martin, Kyle; Young, Tiffany; McGowan, Jess

Abstract

This Innovative Practice Full Paper investigates the implications of implementing a Pass/Fail marking scheme within the undergraduate curriculum, specifically across first year computing modules in a Scottish Higher Education Institution. The motivation for this implementation was to ease stress and pressure on students entering higher education, which became particularly relevant following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reports on the results of a survey that gathered feedback from Stage 1 and Stage 2 students who experienced the Pass/Fail implementation, and results shows that students generally appreciate the Pass/Fail model, although for many, the benefits only become apparent once they are exposed to alternative grading models. A number of recommendations are made for the implementation of similar marking schemes within computing in Higher Education curricula.

Citation

ZARB, M., MCDERMOTT, R., MARTIN, K., YOUNG, T. and MCGOWAN, J. 2023. Evaluating a pass/fail grading model in first year undergraduate computing. In Proceedings of the 2023 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Frontiers in education conference (FIE 2023), 18-21 October 2023, College Station, TX, USA. Piscataway: IEEE [online], article 10343276. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE58773.2023.10343276

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 2023 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Frontiers in education conference (FIE 2023)
• Start Date: Oct 18, 2023
• End Date: Oct 21, 2023
• Acceptance Date: Jun 12, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 31, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 1, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 1, 2024
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Series ISSN: 1539-4565
• ISBN: 9798350336429
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE58773.2023.10343276
• Keywords: Assessment; Computing; CS1; Grading systems; Pass/fail; Pedagogy
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2225875