PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING CRITERIA AND DESCRIPTORS FOR ASSESSING STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF PROGRAMMING

The article discusses the development of an assessment system designed to enhance students' programming skills within the programming course. The purpose of the study is to create a descriptor-based evaluation framework that enables fair and effective assessment of students’ cognitive, practical, and algorithmic competencies in programming. Based on a comprehensive analysis, the following key sections of the programming course were identified for objective assessment: variables and data types, conditional statements, loop structures, functions and parameters, error handling, and input/output operations. Evaluation criteria and a five-level descriptor system were developed, aligned with the cognitive levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. This approach provides a comprehensive assessment of not only theoretical knowledge but also students’ ability to make practical decisions, construct logical structures, and demonstrate algorithmic thinking. The descriptors are adaptable to different languages, ensuring consistency in assessment across various programming languages. The system assists instructors in organizing the evaluation process systematically and helps students clearly understand learning objectives, develop personalized learning paths, and prepare effectively for subsequent stages of their education.