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- Graphical simulator of mathematical algorithms (GraSMA)Publication . Balsa, Carlos; Alves, Luís M.; Pereira, Maria João; Rodrigues, Pedro JoãoOur goal is to develop an interactive software GraSMA that illustrates the execution of mathematical algorithms in the context of numerical methods. We want to create a working tool for teachers and learning tool for students. To achieve it we only use free software (as it is the Open Source software). The strategy followed was to extend the original algorithm code, implemented in Octave, with inspector instructions, recording in a XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file everything that happened during the execution. Subsequently, the XML file is parsed by a Java application that graphically represents the mathematic objects and their behaviour during execution. In this paper, we report the procedures followed, the difficulties encountered and the first results we achieved.
- Simulador gráfico de algoritmos matemáticosPublication . Alves, Luís M.; Balsa, Carlos; Pereira, Maria JoãoO objetivo principal do trabalho de investigação foi desenvolver uma ferramenta computacional que possa ser usada por professores e alunos no ensino dos Métodos Numéricos. A ferramenta, designada por GraSMA (Graphical Simulator of Mathematical Algorithms), permite visualizar no ecrã a execução dos correspondentes algoritmos. Esta ferramenta integra vários softwares open source e baseia-se na anotação automática de código Octave com funções de inspeção que permitem captar a sucessão de valores e produzir uma animação do funcionamento do método. A validação do GraSMA como ferramenta de apoio à lecionação destes métodos foi feita através de uma experiência feita em contexto de sala de aula que obteve resultados muito positivos conforme será descrito neste artigo.
- Student entrance knowledge, expectations, and motivation within introductory programming courses in Portugal and SerbiaPublication . Alves, Luís M.; Gajić, Dušan; Henriques, Pedro Rangel; Ivančević, Vladimir; Lalić, Maksim; Lukovic, Ivan; Pereira, Maria João; Popov, Srđan; Tavares, PaulaProgramming is a skill needed across various disciplines and it is becoming more valuable for many job positions. However, students still appear to struggle in introductory programming courses. Academic achievement in programming may be influenced by numerous factors and may vary across countries, as observed in a previous study focused on Portugal and Serbia. In the present study, factors generally related to achievement and attrition, namely student entrance knowledge, expectations, and motivation, were examined as possible reasons behind achievement issues in introductory programming. An anonymous questionnaire that comprised closed-ended items was given to students enrolled in introductory programming courses at technically oriented higher education institutions in Portugal and Serbia. After data cleansing, response data from 678 students were quantitatively analysed to identify overall characteristics of the investigated groups, as well as differences between the groups from the two countries. The students generally had numerous expectations and motives regarding introductory programming, but their reported entrance knowledge of programming was generally at low levels. On average, the groups from the two countries were similar. The main differences include higher entrance knowledge for students from Serbia and slightly higher expectations for students from Portugal. These findings form a basis for further inquiry into causes of previously observed student performance variations between Portugal and Serbia. As there are many commonalities between the students from these countries, we may work on novel instruction methods and tools that would be useful for programming teachers and enrolled students in both countries.
- Graphical simulation of numerical algorithms - an aproach based on code instrumentation and Java technologiesPublication . Balsa, Carlos; Alves, Luís M.; Pereira, Maria João; Rodrigues, Pedro João; Lopes, Rui PedroWe want to create a working tool for mathematics teachers and a corresponding learning tool for students, namely a graphical simulator of mathematical algorithms (GraSMa). To achieve it we try two different strategies. We started by annotating manually the original algorithm with inspector functions. Now we are testing a new approach that aims at automatically annotating the original code with inspector functions. To achieve this we are developing a language translator module that enables us to comment automatically on any code written in Octave language. The run of the annotated code gated by one of these two ways, records in a XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file everything that happened during the execution. Subsequently, the XML file is parsed by a Java application that graphically represents the mathematic objects and their behaviour during execution. The final application will be accessed on-line through a website (WebGraSMa) which is currently under development. In this paper we report and discuss about the procedures followed and present some intermediate results.
- Simulador gráfico de algoritmos matemáticosPublication . Alves, Luís M.; Balsa, Carlos; Pereira, Maria JoãoO objetivo principal do trabalho de investigação foi desenvolver uma ferramenta computacional que possa ser usada por professores e alunos no ensino dos Métodos Numéricos. A ferramenta, designada por GraSMA (Graphical Simulator of Mathematical Algorithms), permite visualizar no ecrã a execução dos correspondentes algoritmos. Esta ferramenta integra vários softwares open source e baseia-se na anotação automática de código Octave com funções de inspeção que permitem captar a sucessão de valores e produzir uma animação do funcionamento do método. A validação do GraSMA como ferramenta de apoio à lecionação destes métodos foi feita através de uma experiência feita em contexto de sala de aula que obteve resultados muito positivos conforme será descrito neste artigo em contexto de sala de aula que obteve resultados muito positivos conforme neste artigo.
- Graphical simulation of numerical algorithms : an approach based on code instrumentation and Java technologiesPublication . Balsa, Carlos; Alves, Luís M.; Pereira, Maria João; Rodrigues, Pedro João; Lopes, Rui PedroWe want to create a working tool for mathematics teachers and a corresponding learning tool for students, namely a graphical simulator of mathematical algorithms (GraSMa). To achieve it we try two different strategies. We started by annotate manually the original algorithm with inspector functions. Now we are testing a new approach that aims to automatically annotate the original code with inspector functions. To achieve this we are developing a language translator module that enables to comment automatically any code written in Octave language. The run of the annotated code gated by one of these two ways, records in a XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file everything that happened during the execution. Subsequently, the XML file is parsed by a Java application that graphically represents the mathematic objects and their behaviour during execution. The final application will be accessed on-line through a website (WebGraSMa) which is currently under development. In this paper we report and discuss about the procedures followed and present some intermediate results.
- A comparison of introductory programming courses between Portugal and SerbiaPublication . Alves, Luís M.; Henriques, Pedro Rangel; Ivančević, Vladimir; Lalić, Maksim; Lukovic, Ivan; Pereira, Maria João; Tavares, PaulaThe goal of the study was to learn more about differences in academic performance, teaching, and assessment between introductory programming courses in Portugal and Serbia. Data about a selection of higher education courses were compiled and a comparison of student performance and methods employed in the classroom was performed. The obtained results are expected to serve as a basis for subsequent research on how to improve the current teaching practice in the two countries.