David Livingstone

Automatic test-based assessment of programming: A review

Systems that automatically assess student programming assignments have been designed and used for over forty years. Systems that objectively test and mark student programming work were developed simultaneously with programming assessment in the computer science curriculum. This article reviews a number of influential automatic assessment systems, including descriptions of the earliest systems, and presents some of the most recent developments. The final sections explore a number of directions automated assessment systems may take, presenting current developments alongside a number of important emerging e-learning specifications.

Let's get real: spatio-temporal identity and geographic entities

Doreen Massey’s paper in this journal (Massey 1999a) called for a new ‘conversation’ between human and physical geographers about the nature of space-time and time-space. We believe that her initiative is an important one as methodologies in both physical and human geography have become highly entrenched with respect to concepts of space and time. We would like to extend the arguments in our 1995 article (Raper and Livingstone 1995) that were discussed by Massey (1999a), in order to make a contribution to the much needed conversation. Our starting point is Massey’s assertion that ‘the representation of space-time is itself an emergent product of the conceptualization of the space-time entities themselves’ (269). It seems to us that this phrase marks out a number of key theoretical debates: 1 the role of representation 2 the question of how entities are conceptualized 3 the framing role of space and time 4 how representation and conceptualization are mutually constituted. In this Exchange, we would like to set out the important issues for the ‘conversation’ as we see them. As one of us has recently completed a monograph discussing these issues at length (Raper 2000), only the outlines of these arguments will be attempted here.

Important context changes for talking and text messaging during homeward commutes

This paper models the suitability of homeward commutes as a context for talking on a mobile telephone and text messaging. Analysis of these models identifies when and where large changes in suitability frequently arise. To bring commuters the greatest benefits, these are the changes upon which future applications of context-sensitivity and awareness need to focus.

Learn Programming++: The Design, Implementation and Deployment of an Intelligent Environment for the Teaching and Learning of Computer Programming

We discuss the demand for intelligent systems to assist both teachers and students in the teaching and learning of computer programming, then describe the design, implementation of Nooblab, an integrated system offering instruction, a programming test bed and assessment for several programming languages, and its deployment in real university classroom situations. The system also logs every interaction which each student has with it, providing a rich set of data for analysis. Initial results from its use within real courses are presented and discussed, along with proposals for future developments involving incorporating machine learning paradigms into the system.

Don't lose the learning from learning objects!: a request for care in the adaptive content community

Mobile learning (M-learning) encompasses a range of technologies, to the extent that m-learning and e-learning are now referred to as networked learning in some quarters. It is increasingly likely that this involves the deployment of reusable learning objects. There is a risk that as such objects are converted or modified for use in different delivery environments, some of the pedagogy may get lost in the process. Thus, we need to consider how to design and deliver effective m-learning in a scalable manner, to a multiplicity of technologies, by means of adaptive content architectures.

NoobLab: An E-learning Platform for Teaching Programming

Computer Programming remains a difficult discipline to teach. E-learning can help improve student engagement and outcomes but offerings designed to teach programming in a University context are rudimentary when compared to publicly available sites such as Code Academy. This paper describes Noob Lab, an e-learning platform for teaching programming. The environment provides a complete suite of features surpassing prior work, and has successfully been used in a number of undergraduate modules to improve student outcomes, satisfaction, and inform pedagogy.

A steganographic method for the secure embedding of GIS data streams into aerial photography

This paper investigates a steganographic method for associating geographical information with JPEG images, such as aerial photographs. A random walk embedding scheme is used to hide and protect the payload. The scheme also allows for reversible degradation of the image based on the quality factor of the image and the required usage