A method for estimating code key-in times of college students

Abstract

A time estimation method for manual code entry is proposed. It estimates the reasonable time required for the students to key in their own code written in Pascal programming language. Actual time needed to key in varies depending on their knowledge, but this method does not estimate an individual student's manual entry time. For example, reasonable time means that 75% of the students finish their work within it. We are not interested in knowing every student's manual entry time. The features of our estimation process are as follows: First, the short parts of the Pascal code named reading units (RUs) were defined. It was assumed that all students read a code and type keys with every reading unit (RU). RUs were fixed for all students. Second, Method Time Measurement (MTM) was adopted to determine the time required for the basic elemental motions of manual entry operation. MTM is one of the Predetermined Time Standard (PTS) methods and is usually applied to the field of industrial work studies. Third, only s...