Code Critters: A Block-Based Testing Game

Learning to program has become common in schools, higher education and individual learning. Although testing is an important aspect of programming, it is often neglected in education due to a perceived lack of time and knowledge, or simply because testing is considered less important or fun. To make testing more engaging, we therefore introduce Code Critters, a Tower Defense game based on testing concepts: The aim of the game is to place magic mines along the route taken by small "critters" from their home to a tower, such that the mines distinguish between critters executing correct code from those executing buggy code. Code is shown and edited using a block-based language to make the game accessible for younger learners. The mines encode test inputs as well as test oracles, thus making testing an integral and fun component of the game

Semi-automated assessment of SQL schemas via database unit testing

A key skill for students learning relational database concepts is how to design and implement a database schema in SQL. This skill is often tested in an assignment where students derive a schema from a natural language specification. Grading of such assignments can be complex and time consuming, and novice database students often lack the skills to evaluate whether their implementation accurately reflects the specified requirements. In this paper we describe a novel semi-automated system for grading student-created SQL schemas, based on a unit testing model. The system verifies whether a schema conforms to a machine-readable specification and runs in two modes: a staff mode for grading, and a reduced functionality student mode that enables students to check that their schema meets specified minimum requirements. Analysis of student performance over the period this system was in use shows evidence of improved grades as a result of students using the system.Peer Reviewe