Using online annotation software to provide timely feedback in an introductory programming course

Research has shown that targeted and timely feedback of student work is critical to successful knowledge and skill acquisition. However, when instructors and students encounter Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Blackboard, they quickly discover one area that these systems lack is an easy way to provide such feedback. Multiple steps are usually required to accomplish the task. What are needed are better task-specific tools and applications that allow teachers to provide not only timely but targeted feedback. This paper reports on the design, development and the deployment of an online annotation software, RedPencil within a Java programming class.