A blended learning model for practical sessions

We describe an education model that was developed and put in place to improve student engagement and attainment in a first year undergraduate programming course. The work is founded in a checkpoint-based formative assessment experiment undertaken for two years, the success of which is analysed in this document. The results provide evidence leading to a move towards a blended model of education, which requires the design of a software application to support the system. We present the main features of that application, covering aspects that range from traditional approaches and established delivery methods, to e-learning and MOOCs with, for instance, gamification. This blended model of education fosters the development of a teaching practice that adapts to student diversity through informed teaching.