Uso de animaciones para la enseñanza de algoritmos de búsqueda en Inteligencia Artificial

En este trabajo se describe el uso de una herramienta gráfica de libre disposición y código abierto desarrollada como apoyo en la enseñanza de algoritmos de búsqueda heurística en Inteligencia Artificial (A*, IDA* y búsqueda frontera). Se pretende facilitar la comprensión de los mismos y sus propiedades desde una perspectiva activa y participativa por parte de los alumnos, incrementando sus oportunidades para la exploración y el descubrimiento. La herramienta permite editar cuadrículas con obstáculos y definir nodos de inicio y fin. A continuación se puede visualizar paso a paso la ejecución de diversas combinaciones de algoritmos y heurísticos, así como mostrar datos relativos a su rendimiento. Esto permite desarrollar una serie de prácticas y tareas amenas para el alumnado, que a su vez evitan algunas dudas y malentendidos frecuentes en el aprendizaje de esta materia. La herramienta se emplea con éxito desde el curso académico 2007/2008 en la ETSI Informática de la Universidad de Málaga.Peer Reviewe

A framework proposal for algorithm animation systems

The learning and analysis of algorithms and algorithm concepts are challenging to students due to the abstract and conceptual nature of algorithms. Algorithm animation is a form of technological support tool which encourages algorithm comprehension by visualising algorithms in execution. Algorithm animation can potentially be utilised to support students while learning algorithms. Despite widespread acknowledgement for the usefulness of algorithm animation in algorithm courses at tertiary institutions, no recognised framework exists upon which algorithm animation systems can be effectively modelled. This dissertation consequently focuses on the design of an extensible algorithm animation framework to support the generation of interactive algorithm animations. A literature and extant system review forms the basis for the framework design process. The result of the review is a list of requirements for a pedagogically effective algorithm animation system. The proposed framework supports the pedagogic requirements by utilising an independent layer structure to support the generation and display of algorithm animations. The effectiveness of the framework is evaluated through the implementation of a prototype algorithm animation system using sorting algorithms as a case study. This dissertation is successful in proposing a framework to support the development of algorithm animations. The prototype developed will enable the integration of algorithm animations into the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s teaching model, thereby permitting the university to conduct future research relating to the usefulness of algorithm animation in algorithm courses

Visual algorithm simulation

Understanding data structures and algorithms, both of which are abstract concepts, is an integral part of software engineering and elementary computer science education. However, people usually have difficulty in understanding abstract concepts and processes such as procedural encoding of algorithms and data structures. One way to improve their understanding is to provide visualizations to make the abstract concepts more concrete. This thesis presents the design, implementation and evaluation for the Matrix application framework that occupies a unique niche between the following two domains. In the first domain, called algorithm animation, abstractions of the behavior of fundamental computer program operations are visualized. In the second domain, called algorithm simulation, the framework for exploring and understanding algorithms and data structures is exhibited. First, an overview and theoretical basis for the application framework is presented. Second, the different roles are defined and examined for realizing the idea of algorithm simulation. The roles considered includes users (i.e., learners and instructors), visualizers (those who specify the visualizations), programmers (those who wrote the original algorithms to be visualized), and the developers (those who continue to design and implement the Matrix framework). Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm simulation exercises, the main application embodied in the framework, is studied. The current tool is utilized for delivering, representing, solving, and submitting tracing exercises that can be automatically assessed, and thus provides meaningful feedback on learners performance.reviewe

Algorithm Animation for Teaching

We give an overview of rules and techniques to create a good algorithm animation, with emphasis on animations that would be used when teaching algorithms. In this context, we propose that animations should in particular emphasize the visualization of correctness invariants and the complexity of the algorithms. This implies that writing a good animation must be more than just showing the graphically enhanced runtime debugging provided by most common animation systems; instead, each animation must be individually designed and programmed

Key Decisions in Adopting Algorithm Animation for Teaching

Algorithm Animation is becoming increasingly popular with several educators. However, certain key questions have to be addressed before an informed decision on a given system can be made. This paper tries to identify several such questions and provide a brief overview of some algorithm animation systems. The key decisions are grouped in four entries: system type and animation generation approach, display properties, import and export facilities, and didactical requirements. After considering these requirements, deciding on a given system should be easier for educators