Getting Algorithm Visualizations into the Classroom Clifford A

Getting Algorithm Visualizations into the Classroom Clifford A. Shaffer Monika Akbar Alexander Joel D. Alon Michael Stewart Stephen H. Edwards Department of Computer Science Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061

AVs have high faculty and student favorability ratings

AVs: The Problem AVs have high faculty and student favorability ratings But AV use in courses does not match the favorability ratings

Informal Survey Results Warning: Self-selected responders

Informal Survey Results Warning: Self-selected responders Are AVs useful? ◦ Strongly Agree: 12 ◦ Agree: 17 ◦ Neutral: 1

Informal Survey Results Warning: Self-selected responders Are AVs useful? ◦ Strongly Agree: 12 ◦ Agree: 17 ◦ Neutral: 1 A (bare) majority indicated that they used some sort of visualization with class

Survey: Impediments to Use Lack of knowledge/time to find good AVs: 13

Survey: Impediments to Use Lack of knowledge/time to find good AVs: 13 Time to make good AVs: 2 Difficulty integrating in class: 9 Lack of time within class constraints: 2 Uncertainty about quality outcomes: 1 Content not relevant to my classes: 1

Overcoming Impediments Reassurance about what AVs are good Ideas on how to use AVs Reassurance about how a given AV can be used successfully in class Ability to connect to developers

Community Solutions http: //algoviz. org/ ◦ Build a community of users/developers ◦ Better disseminate best practice information Project Support ◦ NSF CCLI grant ◦ NSF NSDL grant ◦ Connections to NSDL/Ensemble project

Algo. Viz. org

Algo. Viz. org A collection of links to over 500 AVs ◦ With rating and review information

Algo. Viz. org A collection of links to over 500 AVs ◦ With rating and review information Annotated papers bibliography: over 500

Algo. Viz. org A collection of links to over 500 AVs ◦ With rating and review information Annotated bibliography: over 500 papers Field reports, forums: Community input

Algo. Viz. org A collection of links to over 500 AVs ◦ With rating and review information Annotated bibliography: over 500 papers Field reports, forums: Community input Algo. Viz news and information

Algo. Viz. org A collection of links to over 500 AVs ◦ With rating and review information Annotated bibliography: over 500 papers Field reports, forums: Community input Algo. Viz news and information Guides and information for developers

Algo. Viz. org A collection of links to over 500 AVs ◦ With rating and review information Annotated bibliography: over 500 papers Field reports, forums: Community input Algo. Viz news and information Guides and information for developers Open. Algo. Viz

Phase I: The Passive Side What problem do we solve here? ◦ Algo. Viz addresses instructor’s reported need for information

Phase I: The Passive Side What problem do we solve here? ◦ Algo. Viz addresses instructor’s reported need for information Nearly done!

Algo. Viz Usage Statistics

Phase II: The Active Side Key problem: How to help instructors through the impediments to using AVs We identified community as a solution How do we build an online educational community?

New Paradigm for Digital Library

New Paradigm for Digital Library Create a new model of “dissemination” to lower barriers to access Move away from the “digital library” model of users coming to collections

New Paradigm for Digital Library Create a new model of “dissemination” to lower barriers to access Move away from the “digital library” model of users coming to collections Focus on “community-driven” content development ◦ Discussion, review, ratings ◦ Think Amazon, but we have critical mass issues

Community Value Added Catalog entry ratings Catalog entry reviews Field reports Forum discussions Interactions with developers

Community Building: Algo. Viz Awards Exemplars of good AVs

Community Building: Algo. Viz Awards Exemplars of good AVs Solicited votes from the public on a slate of nominees 2010: Six winners Hall of Fame: 6+1 ◦ Sorting out Sorting

Community Building: Algo. Viz Awards Exemplars of good AVs Solicited votes from the public on a slate of nominees 2010: Six winners Hall of Fame: 6+1 ◦ Sorting out Sorting 2011: Two winners Come to NSF showcase tomorrow ◦ 3: 00 pm Friday

Notification Connect to community by informing members of site changes ◦ News posts, ◦ New AVs, bibliography, field reports, forum posts

Notification Connect to community by informing members of site changes ◦ News posts, ◦ New AVs, bibliography, field reports, forum posts Email, Face. Book, Twitter, RSS feeds

Notification Connect to community by informing members of site changes ◦ News posts, ◦ New AVs, bibliography, field reports, forum posts Email, Face. Book, Twitter, RSS feeds Fine grained User control of information stream ◦ User profiles

Registration and Access (1) Site registration requirements deter users from participating Link spammers and other malicious entities can overwhelm a site

Registration and Access (1) Site registration requirements deter users from participating Link spammers and other malicious entities can overwhelm a site So we need a balance ◦ Minimum registration requirements possible

Registration and Access (1) Site registration requirements deter users from participating Link spammers and other malicious entities can overwhelm a site So we need a balance ◦ Minimum registration requirements possible Goals: ◦ Link together a given user’s site activities ◦ Be able to block a user

Registration and Access (2) Solutions:

Registration and Access (2) Solutions: ◦ Allow unrestricted access to view

Registration and Access (2) Solutions: ◦ Allow unrestricted access to view ◦ Minimize registration burden

Registration and Access (2) Solutions: ◦ Allow unrestricted access to view ◦ Minimize registration burden ◦ Face. Book connect, etc.

Registration and Access (2) Solutions: ◦ Allow unrestricted access to view ◦ Minimize registration burden ◦ Face. Book connect, etc. ◦ Initially moderate, then declare user to be “trusted”

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned Building site infrastructure and collection is relatively easy ◦ Developers are motivated to provide information

Lessons Learned Building site infrastructure and collection is relatively easy ◦ Developers are motivated to provide information Building community infrastructure is relatively easy

Lessons Learned Building site infrastructure and collection is relatively easy ◦ Developers are motivated to provide information Building community infrastructure is relatively easy Building community is hard

You can help! We need field reports! ◦ Can be quite informal, just post a couple paragraphs on your classroom experience with using an AV Ratings/reviews of Avs Discussion (forums) Thank you!

You can help!

You can help! We need field reports! ◦ Can be quite informal, just post a couple paragraphs on your classroom experience with using an AV

You can help! We need field reports! ◦ Can be quite informal, just post a couple paragraphs on your classroom experience with using an AV Ratings/reviews of Avs Discussion (forums)

You can help! We need field reports! ◦ Can be quite informal, just post a couple paragraphs on your classroom experience with using an AV Ratings/reviews of Avs Discussion (forums) Thank you!