Supporting the rapid development of pedagogically effective algorithm visualizations

In this paper we describe AVsupport, a suite of Java support classes that allow creators of visualizations to rapidly produce pedagogically effective algorithm visualizations, which we refer to as PEAVs. After a discussion of PEAV requirements, we show how AVsupport allows the development of such PEAVs and provide details on its use. We present two such PEAVs developed with AVsupport and describe our experience using them in actual courses.

[1]  Rachelle S. Heller,et al.  Assessing the benefits of interactive prediction using Web-based algorithm animation courseware , 2000, SIGCSE '00.

[2]  Wendi Heinzelman,et al.  Energy-efficient communication protocol for wireless microsensor networks , 2000, Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[3]  Lauri Malmi,et al.  Exploring the role of visualization and engagement in computer science education , 2003, ACM SIGCSE Bull..

[4]  Yong Ma,et al.  ROP: A Resource Oriented Protocol for Heterogeneous Sensor Networks , 2003 .

[5]  JAMAL N. AL-KARAKI,et al.  Routing techniques in wireless sensor networks: a survey , 2004, IEEE Wireless Communications.

[6]  Peter Brusilovsky,et al.  Development of XML-based tools to support user interaction with algorithm visualization , 2005, SGCS.

[7]  Kaoru Sezaki,et al.  On the construction of efficient data gathering tree in wireless sensor networks , 2005, 2005 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.

[8]  John Morris.  Algorithm Animation: Using algorithm code to drive an animation , 2005, ACE.

[9]  Matt Welsh,et al.  MoteLab: a wireless sensor network testbed , 2005, IPSN '05.

[10]  Susan H. Rodger,et al.  Merging interactive visualizations with hypertextbooks and course management , 2006, ACM SIGCSE Bull..

[11]  T. Andrew Yang,et al.  OCO: Optimized Communication & Organization for Target Tracking in Wireless Sensor Networks , 2006, IEEE International Conference on Sensor Networks, Ubiquitous, and Trustworthy Computing (SUTC'06).

[12]  Scott Grissom,et al.  Realizing XML Driven Algorithm Visualization , 2007, Electron. Notes Theor. Comput. Sci..

[13]  Stephen H. Edwards,et al.  Algorithm visualization: a report on the state of the field , 2007, SIGCSE.