Things are Clicking in MessageGrid

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Things are Clicking in MessageGrid

• Roy P. Pargas
• Computer Science
• Teaching with Technology Symposium
• May 9, 2006

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Overview

• MessageGrid
• Web-based software tool to help promote
  interactivity in the classroom

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Overview

• MessageGrid
• Web-based software tool to help promote
  interactivity in the classroom
• Recent additions Clickers and Ink
• Acknowledgements

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Software Clickers

• Eric Mazur
• Harvard University
• Physics for non-majors
• Hardware clickers
• How to Become a Millionaire
• Lifeline question to audience

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Algorithm Analysis Question
Analyze algorithms below and select among (1) A
is O(n log n) and B is O(n), (2) A is O(log n)
and B is O(n2), (3) A is O(n log n) and B is
O(n2), (4) A is O(n) and B is O(log n), (5) A is
O(log log n) and B is O(n2), (6) None of the
above.
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Algorithm Analysis Results
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Algorithm Analysis Question Revisited after
Peer-discussion
Correct answer 3
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Towers of Hanoi (Question)

• Brief applet demonstration of the solution to the
  problem for sizes n3 and n4
• Question How many moves does it take to solve
  the general n-disk problem?
• Options
• (1) 2n-1, (2) 2n-1-1, (3) 2n-11, (4) 2n1,
• (5) 2n1-1, (6) 2n11, (7) 2n, (8) 2n-1,
• (9) 2n1, (10) None of the above.

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Towers of Hanoi (Didnt show these results until
after 2nd question asked)
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Towers of Hanoi (Revisited)
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Mystery Recursion Question

• What does the following recursive algorithm do?
• public static int Mystery(TreeNode t)
• if (t null)
• return 0
• if ((t.left ! null) (t.right ! null))
• return Mystery(t.left) Mystery(t.right)
• else
• return 1
• // Mystery

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Mystery Recursion Options

• Options
• Counts total number of nodes in the tree,
• Counts number of interior nodes,
• Counts number of nodes with one child,
• Adds the values of all nodes,
• Adds the values of all interior nodes,
• Adds the values of all leaves,
• None of the above.

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Mystery Recursion Algorithm
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Mystery Recursion (Revisited)

• Sensed palpable unease among students
• When asked Who would like to change their
  answer? And from what to what?
• Six raised their hands
• Of whom
• Four from 1 to 7
• Two from 2 to 7

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Mystery Algorithm Revisited
- 4 24
- 2 1
6 17
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Clicker Setup
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Clicker Setup
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Clicker Setup
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SIGCSE 2006, My Hotel RoomMarch 2, 2006
748 am CST
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SIGCSE 2006, My Hotel RoomMarch 2, 2006
748 am CST
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SIGCSE 2006, My Hotel RoomMarch 2, 2006
748 am CST
Students Absent
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MessageGrid Ink

• Students with Tablet PCs can submit Ink answers
  to questions

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MessageGrid Ink
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MessageGrid Ink
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MessageGrid Ink
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Student Evaluation
Agree Disagree N/A
Student Assessment Results (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
1. Clickers helps me learn the course material 8 23 12 1 1 0 0
2. Posting questions helps me recognize what is difficult in the reading 2 15 18 6 2 0 3
3. Peer-discussion in class helps me better understand the course material 15 20 10 1 0 0 0
4. Peer-discussion outside of class helps me better understand the course material 10 9 11 0 1 0 13
5. Working alone during class helps me learn better than working with seatmates 0 2 5 19 9 11 0
6. Clickers help me to focus on weaknesses in my understanding of the course material 14 19 11 1 1 0 0
7. MessageGrid is easy-to-use 10 14 16 4 2 0 0
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Future Work

• (Spring 2006) Alternative views of grid content
• Tree-structured content, reflecting discussion
  threads
• (Summer 2006) Standard Likert scales as answer
  options for clickers
• (Summer 2006) Access by non-Clemson faculty
• (Spring/Summer 2006) Interconnectivity with
  handheld devices

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Acknowledgments

• 2003-2005 faculty fellowship from Clemson
  University ETS-OTEI Laptop Faculty Development
  Program
• 2003 Microsoft Content and Curriculum
  Development Grant (Tom Healy, Mgr.)
• 2005 Microsoft Research Tablet PC and Computing
  Curriculum Grant (Jane Prey, Mgr.)

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Thank you for your kind attention.