CSTA Conference Session Review: Visual Studio Code for Education (VSC4E)
Today I attended a session on Visual Studio Code for Education (VSC4E), which is currently in beta and offers an exciting new way for educators to author courses. Microsoft has developed a web-based authoring interface that seamlessly integrates with GitHub, creating a dedicated repository for your course materials. Course content is written in Markdown, with the structure managed via a YML file. It was clear during the session that while the YML file underpins the course structure, the goal is to make it user-friendly, as my inquiry about direct manual editing led to a swift realization that documentation improvements are in the works for that process.
Currently, VSC4E supports the design of HTML and Python courses. It also includes a basic "check for understanding" feature and the ability to map to educational standards.
It can be accessed at Visual Studio Code for Education
Considerations for Adoption
While VSC4E presents an intriguing approach to course authoring, there are a few key areas that give me pause regarding immediate, significant time investment:
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Student Management: At present, VSC4E lacks built-in rostering or grade book functionalities. This means that managing student submissions typically reverts to the Learning Management System (LMS), often requiring manual grading of individual source code or zip files.
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Collaborative Learning: The platform doesn't currently support group projects, which can be a valuable component of many computer science curricula.
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Automated Grading: While it's an open question and potentially an area for future development, the current unit testing capabilities appear insufficient for robust automated grading.
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Language Support: My personal search for a suitable Java development environment continues, as VSC4E, like many emerging tools, primarily focuses on Python, where there are already numerous excellent options.
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Technical Stability: From a brief look "under the hood," the YML structure appears somewhat fragile, which has been a common observation with some past Microsoft Education projects.
Who Might Benefit?
Despite these considerations, VSC4E could be an excellent fit for educators seeking a straightforward online platform for Python or Web Development courses, particularly if student tracking isn't a primary requirement. It could also be very effective for implementing projects that complement existing Python or Web Development courses, offering a streamlined way to deliver coding assignments.