Elevating High School Computer Science Education with Pull Request Checklists

When teaching computer science in high school, encouraging good practices from the onset is crucial. One such practice is the use of pull request checklists during code review, promoting attention to detail and comprehensive understanding. Here's a sample checklist designed for high school coding teachers:

Code Quality

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
 - [ ] Does the student's code follow the best practices for the language (Python, JavaScript, etc.) taught in class?
 - [ ] Is the code readable, maintainable, and efficient?
 - [ ] Are there any unused variables or functions?
 - [ ] Are there any coding anti-patterns in the student's code?

### Understanding and Application

```markdown
  - [ ] Has the student applied the concepts taught in class correctly?
  - [ ] Has the student considered edge cases, especially for data input and processing?
  - [ ] Has the student used appropriate data structures and algorithms where necessary?

Testing and Debugging

1
2
3
 - [ ] Has the student written tests for their code (if applicable)?
 - [ ] Have potential bugs been identified and addressed?
 - [ ] Has the student checked their code for errors and exceptions?

Documentation

1
2
3
 - [ ] Has the student documented their code appropriately, including comments?
 - [ ] Are all comments accurate and reflective of what the code does?
 - [ ] Has the student explained their thought process and problem-solving approach in a README file or equivalent?

In the context of high school coding education, pull request checklists not only facilitate more effective code reviews but also foster a learning environment that emphasizes good coding practices and self-evaluation. Tools like Pull Checklist can help teachers create and manage these checklists, ensuring their coding lessons make a lasting impact.

Get started with your institution today by signing up to the Pull Checklist 14 day free trial via the GitHub marketplace.