Engaged learning in a computer science course

This paper describes the problem of student passivity in class and how can it be addressed by taking advantage of the classroom response system technologies to engage their attention during the class, make them participate in their learning process and provide them and the instructor with immediate feedback on their understanding of the concepts presented. While the use of this technology provides a rapid and simple method for assessing in real time the understanding of the students and organizing their responses, a major part of the work involves developing sets of conceptual questions, rather than algorithmic ones, to be deployed and discussed in class. These sets of questions and the current response technology provide a hierarchy of concepts that pose understanding problems, thus allowing the instructor to map the progress of students in real time and respond accordingly.