Abstract
Algorithm visualization illustrates how algorithms work in a graphical way. It mainly aims to simplify and deepen the understanding of algorithms operation. Within the paper we discuss the possibility of enriching the standard methods of teaching algorithms, with the algorithm visualizations. As a step in this direction, we introduce the VizAlgo algorithm visualization platform, present our practical experiences and describe possible future directions, based on our experiences and exploration performed by means of a simple questionnaire.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
K. Mehlhorn, P. Sanders, Algorithms and Data Structures (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2008)
J. Genči, Possibilities to Solve Some of the Slovak Higher Education Problems Using Information Technologies, In proceedings of: 10th IEEE International Conference on Emerging eLearning Technologies and Applications, ICETA 2012, Stará Lesná, The High Tatras, Slovakia, November 8–9, 2012
S. Khuri, Designing Effective Algorithm Visualizations, In proceedings of: First International Program Visualization Workshop, ITiCSE, Porvoo, Finland, July 7–8, 2000, Available: http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/~khuri/invited.html
C.D. Hundhausen, S.A. Douglas, J.T. Stasko, A Meta-Study of Algorithm Visualization Effectiveness, J. Visual Lang. Comput. 13, 259–290, 2002
V. Lazaridis, N. Samaras, A. Sifaleras, An empirical study on factors influencing the effectiveness of algorithm visualization, Comput. Appl. Eng. Educ. 21, 410–420, 2013
D.J. Jarc, M.B. Feldman, R.S. Heller, Assessing the benefits of interactive prediction using Web-based algorithm animation courseware, Proceedings of SIGCSE 2000 (ACM Press, New York, 2000)
S. Diehl, Software visualization: Visualizing the Structure, Behaviour, and Evolution of Software (Springer, New York, 2007) 187
M.E. Tudoreanu, R. Wu, A. Hamilton-Taylor, E. Kraemer, Empirical Evidence that Algorithm Animation Promotes Understanding of Distributed Algorithms, In proceedings of: IEEE Symposium on Human Centric Computing Languages and Environments, HCC02, Arlington, Virginia, September 2002
B.A. Price, R.M. Baecker, I.S. Small, A Principled Taxonomy of Software Visualization, J. Visual Lang. Comput. 4(3), 211–266, 1993.
Ž. Šuchová, Visualization of Algorithms and Data Structures, Bachelor thesis, DCI FEEI TU of Košice, Bachelor thesis, 2010 (in Slovak)
S. Diehl (Ed.), Software Visualization, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 2269, 2002
M.H. Brown, R. Sedgewick, A system for algorithm animation, Proceedings of the 11th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques, SIGGRAPH’84 (ACM New York, NY, USA, 1984)
G. Rößling, B. Freisleben, ANIMAL: A system for supporting multiple roles in algorithm animation, J. Visual Lang. Comput. 13(3), 341–354, 2002
S. Šimoňák, Algorithm Visualization Using the VizAlgo Platform, Acta Electrotechnica et Informatica 13(2), 54–64, 2013
A. Sajko, Algorithm Visualization, Bachelor thesis, DCI FEEI TU of Košice, 2012 (in Slovak)
A. Gogeshvili, AVL Tree visualization, 2007, available: http://www.qmatica.com/DataStructures/Trees/AVL/AVLTree.html
J. Morris, Hash Table Animation, 1998, available: http://people.cs.pitt.edu/~kirk/cs1501/animations/Hashing.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Šimoňák, S. Using algorithm visualizations in computer science education. centr.eur.j.comp.sci. 4, 183–190 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13537-014-0215-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13537-014-0215-4