Comprehending large code bases - the skills required for working in a "Brown Fields" environment

In the search for answers to the effective teaching of programming at the beginner level, we are now seeing broader programs of research investigate the distinctions between reading, comprehending and writing small programs [1], [2]. In New Zealand we have joined this work with the "Bracelet" project, in which multiple institutions will investigate how students comprehend small computer programs. We hope this may help answer critical teaching and assessment questions

The Many Ways of the BRACElet Project

This paper provides a retrospective snapshot of the first two years of a multi-institutional multi-national study (MIMN) in Computer Science Education called the BRACElet Project. This study has been inquiring into how novice programmers comprehend and write computer programs. The context for the study is outlined, together with details of how it has evolved and those who have participated. Some challenges encountered during the project are highlighted and pointers for the successful conduct of such a study are provided. The paper concludes by noting pitfalls to be avoided, some open research questions, and current plans for furthering the project