Teaching Seminar: James Perretta (Northeastern University), What Should I Test? How to Think About and Select Test Inputs

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Speaker: James Peretta (Northeastern University)

Abstract: How do we decide what inputs we should select to test our software? This teaching demonstration will present an interactive lesson on how to think about test input spaces, break them down into categories, and decide which inputs to prioritize. The approach of this lecture is best used in a sophomore-level programming/data structures course and is targeted towards students with little to no formal training in software testing. 

Bio: James Perretta is a Ph.D. candidate at Northeastern University and has degrees from the University of Michigan (M.S. & B.S. in CS, B.M. in Cello Performance). His research interests lie at the intersection of software engineering and computer science education, with particular interest in software testing. His current research is focused on lowering the human effort required to develop and deploy programming assignments that emphasize software testing while also providing higher-quality testing-focused feedback to students. He has experience teaching CS2/Data Structures, Software Engineering, PL, and C++ Programming. As a musician, his recent activities include performances on the Academy of Early Music series and the Howard M. Brown International Early Music Series; guest presentations at the University of Michigan, UMass Amherst, and UChicago; being twice selected to participate in the Silkroad Ensemble’s Global Musician Workshop; and teaching at the Viola da Gamba Society of America Conclave.