Author: Ari Korhonen
Name of the thesis: World Wide Web in Computer-Aided Learning of Algorithms and Data Structures
Date: 20.5.1997 Number of pages: 62
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Professorship: Tik-106. Computer Science, especially Software Engineering
Supervisor: Eljas Soisalon-Soininen
Instructor: Lauri Malmi
In the thesis, World Wide Web (WWW) and hypermedia along with Internet-programming has been studied as a tool for constructing computer-aided learning environment for teaching algorithms and data structures.
In order to find other similar computer-aided learning environments, a literature survey is carried out. The survey concentrates primarily on systems for teaching algorithms and data structures. Applications to visualize algorithms and data structures are also reported.
In the implementation part of the thesis, a new Web-based computer-aided learning environment is implemented. Hypermedia properties of the Word Wide Web are used and a graphical and interactive user interface is implemented with Java programming language for TRAKLA - a computer-aided learning system of algorithms and data structures. The development of the system is based on implementing all the features of TRAKLA system in WWW and on developing a new visual and interactive user interface. The whole system is called WWW-TRAKLA. The system has a client/server architecture where traditionally coded TRAKLA-server communicates with an independent Java applet client.
The main goal is to achieve a flexible and platform independent learning environment. With Java-compatible WWW-browsers those kind of systems are possible to implement. As an effective development tool, Java provides versatile tools for building easy-to-use applications and applets. In addition, graphical libraries of components are provided with Java compiler. Thus, the development of new visual and interactive applets is fast and convenient. With WWW and the net technology the system gains a new type of flexibility.
Keywords: data structures, algorithms, computer-aided learning, Internet-programming, Java, World Wide Web (WWW).