Virtual Programming Lab for Moodle: Automatic Program Assessment in a First-year University Course

Abstract

The ability to prepare algorithms to solve the problem and rewrite it into program code is one of the necessary skills in finding work in the IT sector. Automated assessment represents a tool that automatically checks source code and provides feedback at a level defined by the instrument or module, providing the automatic evaluation operation. The article aims to use the automated assessment tool in the university environment and evaluate its contribution by students. The research used the Virtual Programming Lab module for LMS Moodle (VPL) integrated into the university e-learning environment. The article describes VPL as a technological solution with its components and processes for running and evaluating student source code. The research was conducted through a questionnaire. The results show that students who are beginning to program perceive VPL and automated assessment as a very useful and effective tool for mastering programming.