How to help digital-native students to successfully take control of their learning: A return of 8 years of experience on a computer science e-learning platform in higher education

Abstract

In this article, we present an educational reform we implemented a few years ago to respond to a marked drop in the success of students entering higher education in computer science. The main objective of our reform is to adapt the teaching methods of Generation X-Y to Generation Y-Z or more. To do this, we propose two approaches. First, to make learning more active, stimulating and empowering. Second, to make learning more individualized in a context of a large group of students with an optimization of the teacher’s time. We first present an analysis of the probable reasons for the lower level of students and the specific issues encountered by both students and teachers. Then, we detail how we implemented these solutions in the form of an original e-learning platform based on two back-end tools able to manage large number of students: an efficient real-time auto-corrector of source codes and a very robust anti-plagiarism software based on computer distance information theory. Finally, we present the results obtained after an experimentation of 8 years. These results are put into perspective by an analysis of 15 years of qualitative and quantitative indicators carried out on hundreds of students each year. The analysis shows that the technical skills and the involvement of students are improved even in groups of several hundreds of students. Computer science teachers wishing to quickly and concretely develop the involvement of their students can rely on these tried and tested key levers and solutions presented.