Using lab exams to ensure programming practice in an introductory programming course

The high variability of students' backgrounds typically found in introductory programming courses creates additional difficulties to foster motivation and ensure the desired competency and retention rates. This paper presents and discusses the results of applying an assessment methodology strongly based upon lab exams (or on-computer exams) with the objective of ensuring programming pratice competency while maintaining students' motivation. It discusses the difficult balances of several assessment methods, details the used assessment methodology and finally presents students results and views. These show that lab exams, although more demanding then group assignments, can be made popular among students if they perceived them as fairer.