Focus More on Teaching than Grading: Try MATLAB Grader

Workshop Proposal Description Get started with the web based auto-grading platform for MATLAB assignments named MATLAB Grader. Instant feedback on code accuracy and helpful hints on common programming errors help students learn at their own pace and schedule. As students get real-time feedback on their solutions and code, instructors can focus more time on effective teaching. Learning analytics embedded in the auto-grading platform provide instructors with insight into patterns of student learning. Participants will learn how to set up auto-graded MATLAB assignments by adopting existing problems from a catalog, how to modify problems to better suit their assessment goals, and how to develop their own problems that can be automatically graded. Facilitators will share exemplar auto-graded problems, best practices for problem design and use cases for learning analytics built into the platform . The workshop will also include pedagogical models for incorporating auto-graded assignments into a broader assessment regime with more open-ended assignments. The workshop will start with a brief presentation introducing the MATLAB Grader platform and its potential benefits for student learning. Next, participants will solve a sample homework problem in MATLAB Grader to get familiar with the student experience. Participants will then move to the role of the instructor. Facilitators will guide participants step-by-step as they work on their laptops to setup a "sandbox course" on MATLAB Grader and create an assignment using problems from a catalog. Once everyone has set up a course and an assignment, facilitators will demonstrate how to modify a problem and share their perspectives on best practices for developing new problems. Participants will also gain instructor access to a pre-populated example course they can use to explore the learning analytics features. During the second half of the workshop, participants will work independently or in groups to develop their own custom assignments. Throughout the workshop, facilitators will be present to answer questions, offer technical support and aid discussions. Note that this is similar to a ticketed (but free) workshop planned for the 2019 ASEE National Conference in Tampa, FL. Duration 2 hours. Required Supplies Participants should bring a laptop, preferably with MATLAB installed. A local MATLAB installation is not required to use MATLAB Grader, but does make development work easier. Participants are encouraged to bring an existing MATLAB programming assignment that they would like to adapt to the MATLAB Grader environment.