Implementation of Split Deadlines in a Large CS1 Course

A study in a large Computer Science 1 (CS1) course investigated the implementation of a split deadlines policy to manage office hour utilization. This policy involved staggering assignment release and due dates for two randomly assigned student groups, effectively halving the number of students with a given deadline. The research aimed to assess the policy's impact on office hour utilization, staff efficiency, student performance, and student perception of fairness and effectiveness.

Why it matters

Optimizing resource allocation and managing operational peaks are critical for maintaining service quality and staff well-being, particularly in high-demand environments. Strategies that mitigate congestion and distribute workload can enhance efficiency, reduce operational stress, and potentially improve outcomes for stakeholders.

Key insights

• Office hour utilization often spikes near assignment deadlines, leading to increased wait times and staff workload.
• A split deadlines policy was implemented in a large CS1 course, dividing students into two groups with staggered deadlines.
• The policy ensured both groups had equal time for assignments, but reduced the number of students due at any single time by 50%.
• The study evaluated the policy's effectiveness across office hour utilization, staff efficiency, student performance, and student perception.
• The abstract states, "Overall we found that the split deadline policy i" implying preliminary positive findings, though the full results are not provided in the source material.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.06753