Local versus comprehensive assignments

Abstract

Two complementary classes of assignments, local and comprehensive, are advocated with different goals and features. The aim of describing both classes of assignments provides guidance to teachers in their design. Local assignments ideally provide an in-depth coverage of only one concept, whereas global ones ideally provide a breadth coverage of most of the concepts studied in a period of time. Both classes of assignments are illustrated with two motivating programming examples: "rolling dice" and "lights out," respectively.