PPALMS (Parsons Problem Automated Learning Management System) generates Parsons problems for upload to popular Learning Management Systems. Parsons problems help new programmers understand code structure by manipulating the arrangement of code lines rather than writing from scratch.
Project Context
This was a Software Engineering course project where I led a 4-student team through the complete software development lifecycle.
My Role
- Team Lead: Guided the team through user elicitation and requirements specification
- SCRUM Master: Ran weekly sprints with continuous development practices
- Technical Contributor: Implemented core problem generation logic
Process
- User Elicitation: Interviewed instructors to understand their needs for programming education tools
- Requirements Specification: Documented functional and non-functional requirements
- Design: Created system architecture and component diagrams
- Implementation: Built the generation system in Python
- Testing: Validated output compatibility with LMS platforms
Technical Details
- Language: Python
- Output Formats: Compatible with popular LMS import formats
- Input: Source code files to transform into Parsons problems
- Methodology: SCRUM with weekly sprints
Documentation
Outcome
Successfully delivered a working system that generates valid Parsons problems from source code, demonstrating both technical skills and software engineering process knowledge.