Developing and evaluating an online programming learning platform with integrated automated assessment for university students

Abstract

In the context of digital transformation in education, proficiency in office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint has become an essential skill for university students, regardless of their major. However, many non-IT students still face significant difficulties in applying these tools effectively for academic and practical purposes. This study investigates the current level of office software skills among 50 non-IT students from various majors at Tan Trao University, including Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Agriculture. Through diagnostic practical tests and online surveys conducted at the beginning of the course, we identified key skill gaps, particularly in formatting documents, using formulas in Excel, and designing effective presentations. Based on the findings, the paper proposes a set of targeted teaching strategies such as differentiated instruction based on student proficiency, the use of short instructional videos (microlearning), and regular low-stakes practice tasks with automated feedback via the university’s LMS platform. The post-course evaluation indicates that these interventions significantly improved student confidence and performance in applying office software to academic tasks. The results suggest that contextualized and student-centered approaches to teaching General Informatics can enhance digital competency and promote more effective learning outcomes for non-IT students in rural higher education settings.