FlorkPal

Some of the weaknesses of the FlorkPal assignment include:

 

• The activity asks students to recall key information from prior CS coursework related to the iterative development process (i.e. requirements, design, implementation, and testing), so while it may be appropriate for advanced CS2 courses or above, it is not as easily translated to the CS1 or early CS2 classroom.

• It also benefits students to have taken an Intro to Engineering course where they are exposed to different aspects of the field, from materials to manufacturing processes and more.

• The connections to external fields (such as art, education, communications) may add a layer of complexity.

• There is an expectation that students are familiar with designing a PowerPoint presentation, particularly in a short amount of time. 

• It is also not a short activity, requiring a good portion of one class meeting to complete.

 

How can these weaknesses be addressed?

 

• The assignment could include refresher materials on requirements, design, implementation, and testing.

• The instructor could provide resources and links to help students understand concepts from external/CS-adjacent fields.

• The description could provide a PowerPoint slides template in a Google drive that teams could access a copy of in order to expedite their deliverable.