Pedagogical Possibilities for the 2048 Puzzle Game

In this paper, we describe an engaging puzzle game called 2048 and outline a variety of exercises that can leverage the game’s popularity to engage student interest, reinforce core CS concepts, and excite student curiosity towards undergraduate research. Exercises range in difficulty from CS1-level exercises suitable for exercising and assessing 1D and 2D array skills to empirical undergraduate research in Monte Carlo Tree Search methods and skilled heuristic evaluation design

Interplay of Desktop and Mobile Apps with Web Services in an Introductory Programming Course

This paper describes a case study of a second-semester introductory programming course for information systems (IS) students that combined desktop and mobile application development and consumption of existing web services. Our aim was to provide students with a holistic view of how different types of applications can be developed and combined to solve real-world problems, as the students learned the basics of programming. Students progressively built a desktop Java application with a graphical user interface for a local public transit system. It combined the use of basic algorithms, existing web services for geo-coding and mapping to illustrate a recommended route on the system. Students then ported this application to the Android platform re-using most of the code they had already developed. Along with fulfilling the traditional objectives of an introductory course, this course also demonstrated the possible interplay of stand-alone components and web services in desktop and mobile applications and kept the students motivated and engaged throughout the semester

Smooth Distribution Function Estimation for Lifetime Distributions using Szasz-Mirakyan Operators

In this paper, we introduce a new smooth estimator for continuous distribution functions on the positive real half-line using Szasz-Mirakyan operators, similar to Bernstein's approximation theorem. We show that the proposed estimator outperforms the empirical distribution function in terms of asymptotic (integrated) mean-squared error, and generally compares favourably with other competitors in theoretical comparisons. Also, we conduct the simulations to demonstrate the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator.Comment: Small typo in Theorem 10: Now -1/12 instead of +1/12 in the term of order $m^{-1}

Two-Language, Two-Paradigm Introductory Computing Curriculum Model and its Implementation

This paper analyzes difficulties with the introduction of object-oriented concepts in introductory computing education and then proposes a two-language, two-paradigm curriculum model that alleviates such difficulties. Our two-language, two-paradigm curriculum model begins with teaching imperative programming using Python programming language, continues with teaching object-oriented computing using Java, and concludes with teaching object-oriented data structures with Java

An exploratory study of organisational transformation in manufacturing SMEs

In a competitive environment organisations are driven to continuously change and adapt to emerging conditions in order to sustain competitive advantage. The reported decline of the manufacturing sector in the UK is believed to be the result, in part, of the failure of manufacturing organisations to adapt by transforming their businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The field of change management is long established and contains a plethora of theories, frameworks, models, and discussions on organisational change and transformation, yet it seems that there is a disconnect between this body of knowledge and its implementation by practitioners. Since the majority of the work in this area is based on empirical analyses of large organisations, it could be argued that the assumption that it can be 'scaled down' to fit the SME context is invalid, as SMEs are well recognised as having distinctive characteristics that warrant specific investigation. Thus, the thesis is focused on providing insights into the transformation behaviour of manufacturing SMEs in order to further understanding of why these organisations struggle to transform. Using the content, process, context framework as its foundation, the transformations of four manufacturing SMEs in Scotland are analysed and discussed using an exploratory case study methodology. The findings suggest that the content of transformation in manufacturing SMEs reflects existing theory, however in addition content elements of ownership or leadership, new management team, and extension of product/service portfolio were in evidence. The process through which manufacturing SMEs transform aligns with the theory of punctuated equilibrium; however the punctuations themselves are not transformational. Leadership, appropriate knowledge and skills, access to resources, and external collaboration are contextual enablers to transformation, whereas culture is a barrier if not aligned to the new behaviours required. The discussions also led to a number of emerging propositions concerning the pace of transformation, patterns of constituent changes, and differences between family and non-family owned/managed organisations, which are presented as areas for future empirical investigation

Pervasive Parallel And Distributed Computing In A Liberal Arts College Curriculum

We present a model for incorporating parallel and distributed computing (PDC) throughout an undergraduate CS curriculum. Our curriculum is designed to introduce students early to parallel and distributed computing topics and to expose students to these topics repeatedly in the context of a wide variety of CS courses. The key to our approach is the development of a required intermediate-level course that serves as a introduction to computer systems and parallel computing. It serves as a requirement for every CS major and minor and is a prerequisite to upper-level courses that expand on parallel and distributed computing topics in different contexts. With the addition of this new course, we are able to easily make room in upper-level courses to add and expand parallel and distributed computing topics. The goal of our curricular design is to ensure that every graduating CS major has exposure to parallel and distributed computing, with both a breadth and depth of coverage. Our curriculum is particularly designed for the constraints of a small liberal arts college, however, much of its ideas and its design are applicable to any undergraduate CS curriculum

Design Early Considered Harmful: Graduated Exposure to Complexity and Structure Based on Levels of Cognitive Development

We have recognized that the natural tendency to teach according to the structure of one’s own understanding runs contrary to established models of cognitive development. Bloom’s Taxonomy has provided a basis for establishing a more efficacious pedagogy. Emphasizing a hierarchical progression of skill sets and gradual learning through example, our approach advocates teaching software development from the inside/out rather than beginning with either console apps or monolithic designs