An Active Tangible User Interface Framework for Teaching and Learning Artificial Intelligence

Interactive and tangible computing platforms have garnered increased interest in the pursuit of embedding active learning pedagogies within curricula through educational technologies. Whilst Tangible User Interface (TUI) systems have successfully been developed to edutain children in various research, TUI architectures have seen limited deployment in more complex and abstract domains. In light of these limitations, this paper proposes an active TUI framework that addresses the challenges experienced in teaching and learning artificial intelligence (AI) within higher educational institutions. The proposal extends an aptly designed tabletop TUI architecture with the novel interactive paradigm of active tangible manipulatives to provide a more engaging and effective user interaction. The paper describes the deployment of the proposed TUI framework within an undergraduate laboratory session to aid in the teaching and learning of artificial neural networks. The experiment is assessed against currently adopted educational computer software and the obtained results highlight the potential of the proposed TUI framework to augment students? gain in knowledge and understanding of abstracted threshold concepts in higher education.

[1]  Alexander Isaev,et al.  PyEvolve: a toolkit for statistical modelling of molecular evolution , 2004, BMC Bioinformatics.

[2]  Lydia Plowman,et al.  Three questions about the Internet of things and children , 2015 .

[3]  Yoshihiro Hayakawa,et al.  Design of advanced active and autonomous learning system for computing education — A3 learning system , 2015, 2015 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE).

[4]  Xavier Alamán,et al.  Designing virtual world educational applications , 2016, 2016 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON).

[5]  So-Yeon Yoon,et al.  The Effect of Tangible User Interfaces on Cognitive Load in the Creative Design Process , 2015, 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality - Media, Art, Social Science, Humanities and Design.

[6]  Enrico Costanza,et al.  TUIO: A Protocol for Table-Top Tangible User Interfaces , 2005 .

[7]  CaudillMaureen.  Neural networks primer, part I , 1987 .

[8]  Ross Bencina,et al.  The Design and Evolution of Fiducials for the reacTIVision System , 2005 .

[9]  Serengul Smith,et al.  Designing a table-top tangible user interface system for higher education , 2017, 2017 International Conference on Smart Systems and Technologies (SST).

[10]  Mohammad Yusri Hassan,et al.  A review on applications of ANN and SVM for building electrical energy consumption forecasting , 2014 .

[11]  John V. Ringwood,et al.  Computer-aided learning in artificial neural networks , 2002, IEEE Trans. Educ..

[12]  Carmen R. Wilson VanVoorhis,et al.  Understanding Power and Rules of Thumb for Determining Sample Sizes , 2007 .

[13]  Tadahiro Taniguchi,et al.  Statistical localization exploiting convolutional neural network for an autonomous vehicle , 2015, IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society.

[14]  Bertrand Schneider,et al.  Benefits of a Tangible Interface for Collaborative Learning and Interaction , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies.

[15]  Henry Skates,et al.  Tangible User Interfaces for Teaching Building Physics , 2016 .

[16]  Morten Fjeld,et al.  Tangible User Interface for Chemistry Education: Visualization, Portability, and Database , 2005 .

[17]  Ross Bencina,et al.  reacTIVision: a computer-vision framework for table-based tangible interaction , 2007, TEI.

[18]  Clifford De Raffaele,et al.  The application of Tangible User Interfaces of teaching and learning in Higher Education , 2017 .

[19]  Clifford De Raffaele,et al.  Teaching and learning queueing theory concepts using Tangible User Interfaces , 2016, 2016 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE).

[20]  Chao Xu,et al.  A Tangible Embedded Programming System to Convey Event-Handling Concept , 2016, TEI.

[21]  B. Yegnanarayana,et al.  Artificial Neural Networks , 2004 .

[22]  Hiroshi Ishii,et al.  Tangible bits: beyond pixels , 2008, TEI.

[23]  Javier Jaén Martínez,et al.  AGORAS: Exploring Creative Learning on Tangible User Interfaces , 2011, 2011 IEEE 35th Annual Computer Software and Applications Conference.

[24]  Joshua Tanenbaum,et al.  Narrative Meaning Creation in Interactive Storytelling , 2008 .

[25]  Lorena Blasco-Arcas,et al.  Using clickers in class. The role of interactivity, active collaborative learning and engagement in learning performance , 2013, Comput. Educ..

[26]  Trevor Darrell,et al.  Caffe: Convolutional Architecture for Fast Feature Embedding , 2014, ACM Multimedia.

[27]  Keyur Sorathia,et al.  AstroGrasp: a tangible user interface for teaching basic astronomy concepts , 2013, APCHI.

[28]  John Salvatier,et al.  Theano: A Python framework for fast computation of mathematical expressions , 2016, ArXiv.

[29]  Gilles Louppe,et al.  Independent consultant , 2013 .

[30]  Maureen Caudill,et al.  Neural networks primer, part III , 1988 .

[31]  Orhan Gemikonakli,et al.  Explaining multi-threaded task scheduling using tangible user interfaces in higher educational contexts , 2017, 2017 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON).

[32]  Alan F. Blackwell,et al.  Correlates of the cognitive dimensions for tangible user interface , 2006, J. Vis. Lang. Comput..

[33]  Bodily Effort Enhances Learning and Metacognition: Investigating the Relation Between Physical Effort and Cognition Using Dual-Process Models of Embodiment , 2017, Advances in cognitive psychology.

[34]  Mitchel Resnick,et al.  Extending tangible interfaces for education: digital montessori-inspired manipulatives , 2005, CHI.

[35]  Razvan Pascanu,et al.  Pylearn2: a machine learning research library , 2013, ArXiv.

[36]  Peter J. Braspenning,et al.  Artificial Neural Networks: An Introduction to ANN Theory and Practice , 1995, Artificial Neural Networks.

[37]  Clifford Brown,et al.  Electronic delivery of lectures in the university environment: An empirical comparison of three delivery styles , 2008, Comput. Educ..

[38]  A. Roli.  Artificial Neural Networks , 2012, Lecture Notes in Computer Science.

[39]  Bertrand Schneider,et al.  Preparing for Future Learning with a Tangible User Interface: The Case of Neuroscience , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies.

[40]  Emilio Soria-Olivas,et al.  Educational Software Based on Matlab GUIs for Neural Networks Courses , 2016 .

[41]  Orit Shaer,et al.  Designing reality-based interfaces for experiential bio-design , 2013, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing.

[42]  Bertrand Schneider,et al.  Combinatorix: a tangible user interface that supports collaborative learning of probabilities , 2012, ITS '12.

[43]  Orhan Gemikonakli,et al.  The aptness of Tangible User Interfaces for explaining abstract computer network principles , 2016, 2016 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE).