Automating Production of PowerPoint-Based Algorithm Visualization Teaching Materials

Principal Investigator:

Sen Zhang, SUNY Oneonta

The primary goal of the project is to build software and a sharing platform to increase the availability and accessibility of easily adaptable, standardized PowerPoint (PPT) (a Microsoft technology) presentation-based data structures and algorithms (DSAs) visualization materials. The proposed approach is expected to promote standardization, centralization, and reuse of DSA teaching materials, as well as the preparedness for DSA teaching. This project will refine the generators that have been prototyped and implement new DSA generators, focusing upon those taught at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs). An automated database-and-dispatcher-driven cyber platform, which releases end users from the hassle of running generators, will also be refined. The project will be evaluated on a small scale and the outcomes of the project will be disseminated at the national computer science education conferences.

Co-PI’s and Key Partners:

James Ryder, SUNY Oneonta (Co-PI)

Reports and Resources:

• Final report summary
• SUNY Oneonta Algorithm Visualization
• Sharing the Experience of Teaching Data Structure and Algorithms using Automatically Generated Materials (CCSCE, Ewing, NJ, Nov. 2013)

Publications:

• Pedagogical practices and benefits of using an auto-generation approach to facilitate teaching data structures and algorithms (CCSCNE, Albany, NY, April, 2013)
• Sen Zhang, “An Auto-Generation Approach to Create Visualization Teaching Materials for Data Structures and Algorithms in MS-PPT Format,” International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 714-718, 2015.
• Article published in 2015 International Conference on Collaboration Technologies and Systems (CTS)

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