Addressing Teaching Practices Regarding Software Quality: Testing and Debugging in the Classroom

Abstract

Software quality is seen as an integral part of CS education. Two of the key concepts concerning software quality are testing and debugging. Testing is considered important to verify the students' underlying model or algorithm. Debugging is an approach related to computational thinking which is distinct from general programming skills and fosters abilities like logical reasoning and independent problem solving. However, approaches, teaching materials, and studies on how to teach and integrate those concepts effectively into K12 classrooms are lacking. Therefore, both debugging and testing are often neglected in teaching practice, despite them being represented in many (but not all) curricula. In the following, we present a research project with the intention of providing adequate and evaluated strategies for addressing software quality in the classroom and its rationale. For this purpose, the model of Beizer's testing levels has been utilized and didactically transposed, thereby making it applicable to CS education in K12. The resulting categories may provide a basis for teaching and research.