Abstract
This paper presents results from three interrelated studies focusing on introducing TRAKLA2 to students taking courses on data structures and algorithms at the University of Turku and Abo Akademi University in 2004. Using TRAKLA2 they got acquainted with a completely new system for solving exercises that provided them with automatic feedback and the possibility to resubmit their solutions. Besides comparing the students' learning results, a survey was made with 100 students on the changes in their attitudes towards web-based learning environments. In addition, a usability evaluation was conducted in a human-computer interaction laboratory. Our results show that TRAKLA2 considerably increased the positive attitudes towards web- based learning. According to students' self-evaluations, the best learning results are achieved by combining traditional exercises with web-based ones. In addition, the numerical course statistics were clearly better than in 2003 when only pen-and-paper exercises in class were used. The results from the usability test were also very positive: no severe usability problems were revealed; in fact, the results indicate that the system is very easy to learn and user-friendly as a whole.
Highlights
Automatic assessment (AA) tools for courses in computer science (CS) are being developed and gaining acceptance more and more widely in education at university level
In 2004, TRAKLA2 was introduced at two universities in Turku, and in this paper we report the experiences from three interrelated studies focusing on using TRAKLA2: the first study compares the students’ learning results between using and not using TRAKLA2 in a course on data structures and algorithms (DSA)
We will present results derived from the course statistics, including the number of students failed/passed, average grades, attendances in classroom and TRAKLA2 exercises, and so on
Summary
Automatic assessment (AA) tools for courses in computer science (CS) are being developed and gaining acceptance more and more widely in education at university level. TRAKLA2 by Korhonen et al (2003a,b) is a visual algorithm simulation exercise system that has been developed at Helsinki University of Technology (HUT). Students simulate how algorithms work on a conceptual level solving exercises using graphical manipulation of visualizations of data structures on the screen. In 2004, TRAKLA2 was introduced at two universities in Turku, and in this paper we report the experiences from three interrelated studies focusing on using TRAKLA2: the first study compares the students’ learning results between using and not using TRAKLA2 in a course on data structures and algorithms (DSA). In the end of the paper, we will present the main conclusions and some suggestions for future work
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