NSF CCLI Showcase

SIGCSE 2006

NSF CCLI ShowcaseSIGCSE 2006

Thursday, 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Program Visualization using Virtual WorldsStephen Cooper, St. Joseph’s UniversityWanda Dann, Ithaca CollegeBarbara Moskal, Colorado School of MinesRandy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon University

Online Programming Tutors for Computer Science IAmruth Kumar, Ramapo College of New Jersey

Extending the Next Generation Robot Laboratory to Increase Diversity in Undergraduate CS ProgramsMaria Gini, University of MinnesotaKaren Sutherland, Augsburg College Janice Pearce, Berea College

Program Visualization using Virtual Worlds

Stephen Cooper, Saint Joseph’s UniversityWanda Dann, Ithaca College

Barbara Moskal, Colorado School of MinesRandy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon University

CCLI NSF-0339734Novices author 3D movies and create interactive computer games as they learn object-oriented programming concepts

-- Increasing retention

-- Attracting more majors

Running professional development workshops for teachers

Problets: Online Programming Tutors for Computer Science I

Helps students learn by solving problems Explains the execution of program code Adapts to the learning needs of students Available for C/C++/Java/C#

For expressions, selection, loops, functions Provides class summary to instructors Runs on recent Java-aware browsers Free for educational use Contact: amruth@ramapo.edu

Objectives:Objectives:• To increase confidence through hands-on

programming experiences.• To solve real-world and open-ended

problems.• To foster cooperation by working in

groups.

Extending the Next Generation Robot Laboratory to Increase Diversity in

Undergraduate CS Programs

Process:Process:

We are developing programming modules designed to encourage undergraduates majoring in fields such as health professions, business, art, and education to take more computer science courses. The approach is centered around using the AIBO Sony robot dogs at the very beginning of the computer science curriculum.

Maria GiniMaria Gini, University of Minnesota Jan PearceJan Pearce, Berea College Karen SutherlandKaren Sutherland, Augsburg College

Extending the Next Generation Robot Laboratory to Increase Diversity in

Undergraduate CS Programs

NSF CCLI ShowcaseSIGCSE 2006

Friday 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

The UC-WISE project: Online Curricula for Monitored, Closed-lab First-year CS CoursesMike Clancy, Marcia Linn & Nate Titterton, University of California at Berkeley

Integrating Algorithm Visualization into Computer Science EducationScott Grissom, Grand Valley State UniversityMyles McNally, Alma CollegeThomas Naps, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

CS 0.5: A New Approach to Introductory Computer Science for MajorsRobert H. Sloan & Patrick Troy, University of Illinois at Chicago

Intelligent Tutoring System for CS-I and II LaboratoryJungsoon Yoo, Sung Yoo, Chrisila Pettey, Judy Hankins, Cen Li & Suk Seo, Middle Tennessee State University

The UC-WISE project: Online curricula for monitored, closed-lab first-year CS courses

(Michael Clancy, Marcia Linn, Nate Titterton, all at U.C. Berkeley)

Curriculum Components• a wide variety of programming activities,

including interactive and constrained programming activities with real-time code analysis and execution;

• online and face-to-face collaborations;

• embedded assessments, surveys, and self-tests.

Research Areas• evaluation of activities not in traditional-

format courses, and of various kinds of immediate feedback for students;

• analysis of student misconceptions revealed by the rich variety of activities in UC-WISE courses;

• comparison of online vs. face-to-face collaborative activities;

• exploration of differential benefits for underrepresented populations;

• design of instructor support systems during phases of course creation, delivery, refinement, and research.

Lab instructors monitor student understanding and provide targeted tutoring where and when it will be most appropriate.

CCLI project goal: Provide technology and curricula for lab-based CS 1 and CS 2.

Longer-term goal: Allow instructors to build and customize courses, prototype new course elements, and collect review comments from experienced course developers.

Integrating Algorithm Visualization into Computer Science Courses

• JHAVÉ: Java Hosted Algorithm Visualization Environment

• Goal: Development of a comprehensive suite of visualization-based materials and best practices for teaching algorithms and data structures

• Principal Investigators:• Scott Grissom (Grand Valley State University)• Myles McNally (Alma College)• Thomas Naps (University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh)

• Website: http://www.jhave.org

CS 0.5CS 0.5 - - A New Approach to A New Approach to Introductory Computer ScienceIntroductory Computer Science

Problem: High Attrition RatesProblem: High Attrition Rates• Cause: Failure to Engage StudentsCause: Failure to Engage Students• Cause: One Size fits All ApproachCause: One Size fits All Approach

Solution: Separate and EngageSolution: Separate and Engage• Allow Experience Student to test outAllow Experience Student to test out• Uses Media to Engage StudentsUses Media to Engage Students

Results: Higher Success RateResults: Higher Success Rate

Adaptive Tutor for Online Learning

Middle Tennessee State UniversityJ. Yoo, C. Pettey, S. Yoo J. Hankins, C. Li, S. Seo

Web-based lab environment to provide personalized assistance.

Tutor employs a two-step semi-supervised learning system for strategy adaptation

Student progress monitoring system Question generation module Automatic grading

NSF CCLI ShowcaseSIGCSE 2006

Friday 2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.

jGRASP: A Framework for Integrating Visualizations of Software (page 11)James Cross, Dean Hendrix & David Umphress, Auburn University

Project MLExAI: Machine Learning Experiences in AI (page 12)Ingrid Russell, University of Hartford Zdravko Markov, Central Connecticut State UniversityTodd Neller, Gettysburg College

A Radical Approach to Teaching Object-oriented Programming(page 13)Kathryn E. Sanders & Ann Moskol, Rhode Island College

Increasing Interaction and Visualization in the Computability Course (page 14)Rakesh M. Verma, Pavan Podila & Saquib Hakim, University of Houston

jGRASP

A Framework for Integrating Visualizations of SoftwareJames Cross, Dean Hendrix, David Umphress

Auburn University

Control Structure Diagram UML Class Diagram

Data Structure Diagram

Project MLExAI: Machine Learning Experiences in AIProject MLExAI: Machine Learning Experiences in AI

Ingrid Russell, University of HartfordIngrid Russell, University of Hartford

Zdravko Markov, Central Connecticut State UniversityZdravko Markov, Central Connecticut State University

Todd Neller, Gettysburg CollegeTodd Neller, Gettysburg College

Objectives•Enhance student learning experience by implementing a unifying theme of machine learning to tie together core AI topics.

•Increase student interest and motivation to learn AI by providing a framework for the presentation of the major AI topics that emphasizes the strong connection between AI and computer science.

•Highlight the bridge that machine learning provides between AI technology and modern software engineering.

•Introduce students to an increasingly important research area, thus motivating them to pursue further study in this area.

Project GoalThe project goal is to develop a framework for teaching core AI topics with a unifying theme of machine learning. A suite of hands-on term-long projects are developed, each involving the design and implementation of a learning system that enhances a commonly-deployed application.

SIGCSE NSF ShowcaseMarch, 2006

A radical approach to teaching object-oriented programming

Kate Sanders & Ann MoskolRhode Island College

• Objects, inheritance, and polymorphism early• Graphical examples• Stress on design

I am a composite object …

Objectives

Enhance learning of automata and learning experience

Expose students to current applications of automata

Provide glimpses of the variety of finite automata including tree and DAG automata

Background

Problems in learning Automata Theory

Too abstract

Too difficult

Student Perception: Of little use

Student Perception: Dated material

Methods

Enhance and integrate visualization tools, e.g., JFLAP from Duke and LRR from University of Houston

Add current applications

Add useful examples of automata

We have:

Enhanced JFLAP to generate random strings for debugging of automata designs

We have developed:

Lecture notes with HTML and PowerPoint slide presentations that include JFLAP animations

New course materials that include applications of finite automata

New lab assignments and problem sets

A Web repository with teaching materials

Graphical interface, RuleMaker, for visualizing tree automata

Results

Inspired students to work on LRR and automata projects

Positive end of course evaluations, tool/website appreciation

Students helped with slides and web page

Conclusions & Future Work

It can be done!

Add more recent applications, e.g., Buchi automata and model checking

Write a new text book ?!

Acknowledgements: Thanks to M.F. Anwar. Work supported in part by NSF grant DUE 0311407

A Visual and Interactive Automata Theory Course Emphasizing Breadth of Automata

By Rakesh Verma, Pavan Podila and Saquib HakimComputer Science Department

University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-3010http://www.cs.uh.edu/~rmverma

NSF CCLI ShowcaseSIGCSE 2006

Saturday 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Due to logistical reasons, the Saturday showcase session has been cancelled