Using Memory Diagrams for Assessment of Student Comprehension of Object-Oriented Programs
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 Understanding the execution of an object-oriented program can be a challenge
 for a  student starting a CS1 course.  We believe that a type of diagram
 that we call memory diagrams can both aid the student in understanding
 object-oriented programming and aid the instructor in assessing the student's understanding.

 

 Memory diagrams focus on how, in an abstract sense, the memory of the
 machine  changes as the program executes. Though memory diagrams are a
 simple idea, by careful use of shape and placement, a number of key points
 about the meaning of a program fragment can be conveyed visually.

 

 After introducing memory diagrams we discuss how they can be used in
 qualitative assessment of student comprehension of object-oriented programs.
 We then present some preliminary work on evaluating their use in
 quantitative assessment. We conclude with plans for future work. This work
 was done jointly with Mark Holliday, also of the Department of Mathematics
 and Computer Science at Western Carolina University.