Limited availability of qualified graduates from computer science and computer-science related fields is becoming a serious problem, even in the face of greater opportunities and increasing financial reward. The foreseeable lack of well-prepared software developers is affected both by recruitment and retention of students in computer science programs. To address student retention in computer science programs, Appalachian State University is developing an early intervention program designed to guide effective programming habits. The PIs are developing a passive, non-intrusive data collection and analysis tool that is providing insight on the software development strategies employed by students and is forming the basis of intervention strategies to align these habits with those of professional developers.
Results from this project are being used to:
Provide quantitative insight into the software development practices of introductory students Determine software development patterns of experienced programmers, professionals and graduate students Develop models of both successful and unsuccessful software development patterns
