Abstract
In Fall 2007, we introduced "virtual office hours" into Harvard College's introductory computer science course, CS 50, so that students could meet with teaching fellows (TFs) online to discuss problem sets at any hour from anywhere. Our goals were to lower the bar to interaction among TFs and students and to improve the efficiency and convenience of the same. Rather than rely on email alone, we experimented with Elluminate, third-party software that not only allowed students and TFs to chat via IM and VOIP, it also enabled the latter to see and even share control of the former's screens (eg, code in students' terminal windows). Students, in turn, were able to troubleshoot bugs with TFs by their (virtual) side. We surveyed our nearly 300 students on their experiences with office hours, both physical and virtual. Although most students responded positively to the idea of virtual office hours, only 55% logged in at least once. However, nearly the same number (62%) attended the physical. We ultimately judged our virtual office hours a net positive, with 14% of students attending the virtual (and 21% the physical) "often." But our experiment was not without some unexpected results. We found that wait times online sometimes matched or exceeded those in the physical lab, partly the result of the software's own shortcomings and students' habits online. Ultimately, the audience for these virtual office hours was entirely self-selecting. Those students who liked the experience online opted in, whereas those who preferred more traditional help opted out.
Highlights
Computer Science 50 is Harvard College’s introductory course for majors and non-majors alike, a one-semester amalgam of courses generally known as CS 1 and CS 2 taught mostly in C
A course with nearly 300 undergraduates and over 20 teaching fellows (TFs), most of whom are undergraduates themselves, CS 50 demands an average of 15 hours of work per week of students and TFs alike, much of which is spent on problem sets
In the section that follows, we describe our approach to virtual office hours as well as the software we chose for our virtual lab
Summary
Computer Science 50 is Harvard College’s introductory course for majors and non-majors alike, a one-semester amalgam of courses generally known as CS 1 and CS 2 taught mostly in C. A course with nearly 300 undergraduates and over 20 teaching fellows (TFs), most of whom are undergraduates themselves, CS 50 demands an average of 15 hours of work per week of students and TFs alike, much of which is spent on problem sets. For guidance on these problem sets, students turn to lectures and “sections,” classes led by TFs, and to “office hours,” blocks of time during which students can receive one-on-one help in a computer lab with their code on a screen and a TF by their side.
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