Curriculum Design, Development and Assessment for Computer Science and Similar Disciplines

Curriculum design and development for Computer Science and similar disciplines as a formal model is introduced and analysed. Functions of education process as knowledge delivery and assessment are analysed. Structural formation of curriculum design is presented using definitive, characteristic and predictive functions. The process of change in the discipline is described and analysed. The algorithm to determine the core of the discipline is developed. Functions of the core moving and merging are introduced and analysed. A new assessment technique, multiple choice answers approach (MCAA) with several right and not mutually exclusive answers from a larger set of answers, is introduced. MCAA, even though developed as an assessment technique, also facilitates the formation of reliable coverage of subject curricula. The rigorous formation of assessment becomes an essential segment of curriculum design and development. Levels of applicability are explained showing the practical effectiveness of the proposed approach. A trial application in a real module of computer science showed promising results. Schemes of student progress assessment are introduced including analysis of success and protection from guessing, using penalty functions. Schemes of further development and directions for further research are discussed.