Web-service GitHub and text editor LaTeX as effective tools of revision and control of student works at universities

Abstract

This work aimed to give an example of the effective use of the GitHub web service specifically in an academic environment. The case stud was given to a MSc thesis that was written completely using LaTeX and GitHub. The presentation illustrated how specifically one can apply new technologies and innovative approaches in the educational environment. Traditional for IT industry and programmers, GitHub offers great opportunities for effective collaboration such as 'student-supervisor' or 'group of students' or 'group of colleagues'. Unlike traditional programs, the use of innovative technologies of text editors, such as LaTeX and data archiving such as GitHub allows supervisor to monitor student’s research progress. A great advantage of GitHub consists in its color syntax and maintaining history of updates versions. This presentation demonstrated general conceptual principles of the Github and LaTeX. Some technical issues of running project, creating repositories, making updates, adding new files to the system are demonstrated with a series of screenshot illustrations of the process. Some important features and advantages of working with Github and LaTeX in the academic environment are listed and discussed. The possibilities for collaborative data sharing, research progress updating and creative works are illustrated. Current work is a technical illustration of using IT in education.