Which pointer errors do students make?

• Main Authors: Adcock, Bruce, Bucci, Paolo, Heym, Wayne D., Hollingsworth, Joseph E., Long, Timothy, Weide, Bruce W.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Information systems > Information storage systems > Record storage systems > Record storage alternatives > Linked lists; Social and professional topics > Professional topics > Computing education > Computing education programs > Computer science education; Social and professional topics > Professional topics > Computing education > Model curricula; Software and its engineering > Software notations and tools > Compilers > Dynamic compilers; Software and its engineering > Software notations and tools > General programming languages > Language features > Data types and structures; Software and its engineering > Software organization and properties > Contextual software domains > Operating systems > Memory management
• ISSN: 0097-8418
• DOI: 10.1145/1227310.1227317

A model and a taxonomy to characterize pointer manipulations are introduced, along with an instrumentation technology that leverages them to provide students with immediate reports of pointer errors in C++ programs. Data collected from CS2 student assignments show that the vast majority of student pointer errors either would not have been noticed at all, or would have been detected only much later in execution, if this infrastructure were not used. Possible applications of the underlying technology--both to conduct long-term educational research into students' understanding of pointers, and to improve pedagogy directly--are discussed.