Estudo e adaptação de software para o ensino de Linguagens Formais e Autômatos

Abstract

The discipline Formal Languages and Automata is fundamental in courses of higher education computing by studying characteristics of programming languages (which are formal languages), computational models that recognize these languages and other models that allow the specification of these languages. The high level of abstraction required in this discipline increases the difficulties that students have in their learning. Moreover, teachers have difficulties to find alternative ways to teach content and make the discipline more interesting for students. This article presents some adjustments and implementation of new functionalities performed in a computational tool (software) in order to assist teachers in teaching Formal Languages and Automata. So, we conducted an analysis of existing computational tools for the teaching of this discipline, where the JFLAP tool was selected for the inclusion of new features. There was also a case study in order to identify the need for adjustments in the chosen tool. And last, the adaptation of the software was performed. It is believed that this research will contribute to improving the teaching of the subject in Automata and Formal Languages courses in computing and expand the use of the tool in the process of teaching and learning.