Assessments

We know that you are working hard on completing your assignments and that this work forms the primary mechanism for learning and mastering concepts in CS106B. If, after completing an assignment, you have a solid and confident understanding of how and why your code works, you are on the right track toward a deep understanding of CS106B's core concepts! Since assignments focus on specific topics throughout the course progression, it can be valuable to have additional summative opportunities to assess your learning and receive feedback on your progress.

To adapt to the online learning format being used for this summer, we want you to have the opportunity for assessment but with lower stakes and less stress than a traditional exam format would have. Therefore, we are going to experiment with a different format for assessments this quarter: a low-stakes mid-quarter diagnostic with a self-reflection component and a creative final project where you will be asked to write and present your own final exam or section problem at the end of the quarter.

These assessments will feature opportunities for feedback, check-ins, and self reflection, as well as interactive discussion with your section leader in the case of the final assessment. This interactive discussion allows two-way communication where you can demonstrate what you've learned and respond to questions from your section leader. In preparation for presenting your final project, you will have the chance to ask questions of your own and receive guidance about where your skills are strong and where you have opportunity for growth.

We will have more information about these assessments as the quarter progresses. Our primary focus is to take advantage of the virtual learning environment to create assessments that will allow you to demonstrate what you’ve learned in the class rather than testing you under strict time constraints as in a traditional exam. If you have any concerns about the assessment structure, please feel free to reach out to the course staff.

Mid-Quarter Diagnostic

The mid-quarter diagnostic will be a short, loosely-timed online assessment that will allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the core, fundamental topics from the first three weeks of CS106B. The diagnostic will be available for students to complete over a 72-hour time span from July 17 to July 19. The diagnostic will be designed to take an hour and a half – once started, the exam file will remain accessible for up to 3 hours in order to provide ample time to complete the assessment. Upon completion, students will get graded feedback on their assessment and will be asked to write a short self-reflection on their performance and potential areas for improvement.

Final Project

The final project will be released well before the end of the quarter and will ask students to design an exam/section problem on a topic of their choice. The multi-week project will give you the opportunity to check in with instructors and/or your section leader for feedback while developing a solution to a problem that you get to motivate and develop. You will present and teach the problem in a 1-on-1 meeting at the end of the quarter.

More specific details regarding the final project, including sample problems, rubrics, and milestones will be published on July 20. Completed problem writeups will be due on August 9 and final presentations will take place from August 13 to August 16.