Things are Clicking in Computer Science Courses

1
Things are Clicking in Computer Science Courses

• Roy P. Pargas and Dhaval M. Shah
• Clemson University
• SIGCSE 2006, Houston TX
• March 3, 2006

2
Overview

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

3
Overview

• MessageGrid
• Web-based software tool to help promote
  interactivity in the classroom
• Clemson laptop mandate
• The problem
• Our solution
• Recent additions Clickers and Ink
• Plans for the future
• Acknowledgements

4
Burning Question
5
Where in the World isClemson University?
6
Where in the World isClemson University?
We are here
7
Clemson Laptop Mandate

• Every student is required to have a laptop
  computer with wireless access to the Internet

8
The Problem

• How can instructors use the laptop computers to
  advantage in and out of the classroom?
• Every problem is an opportunity for a creative
  solution
• Tina Seelig, Keynote FIE 2005, October 20, 2005

9
Our Solution MessageGrid

• Web-based
• Rows and columns
• Instructor designs grid
• Students post original submissions or replies to
  submissions
• Anything displayed by a browser
• Text, image, audio, video, animation, PowerPoint,
  

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Origin

• Laptop Faculty Development Program
• Small groups (6-8 faculty members) meet weekly
• Share ideas on how they are changing the way they
  teach using laptops
• Interdisciplinary
• English, Psychology, Math, Experimental
  Statistics, Chemistry, Computer Science

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Original Idea MusicGrid

• Andrew Levin, Professor, Department of Performing
  Arts
• December 2003
• 12 music categories (rows)
• 2-4 movements (columns)
• Each student given specific listening assignment

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MusicGrid
Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4
Harmony
Rhythm
Melody
Form
etc.
13
MusicGrid
Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4
Harmony
Rhythm Johnny
Melody
Form
etc.
14
MusicGrid
Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4
Harmony
Rhythm Johnny
Melody
Form Susie
etc.
15
MusicGrid
Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4
Harmony Tawanna
Rhythm Johnny
Melody
Form Susie
etc.
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MusicGrid
Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4
Harmony Tawanna
Rhythm Johnny
Melody Miguel
Form Susie
etc.
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Spring 2004MusicGrid Was Born

• Word got out
• Other faculty (Chemistry, Nursing, Languages,
  English, Administration) wanted to use MusicGrid
• MusicGrid became MessageGrid

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Recursion Exercises
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Pre-Lecture Reading Assignment
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Gaining Popularity

• Current Users (30)
• English, Psychology, Nursing, Languages,
  Chemistry, Freshman Engineering, Mathematics,
  Performing Arts, Computer Science
• Uses
• Recitation, reading assignment, collaborative
  writing, in-class exercises, PowerPoint
  presentation review, team project collaboration,
  faculty meetings

21
Evolution
Every semester since January 2004, more
instructors use MessageGrid
At semesters end, instructors discuss possible
improvements
Suggestions with most instructor support are
implemented
22
Most Recent Improvements

• Clickers (this paper)
• Ink (not in this paper, but too excited not to
  tell you about it)

23
Software Clickers

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

24
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

34
Mystery Algorithm Revisited
- 4 24
- 2 1
6 17
35
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
38
Clemson Laptop Mandate

• Every student is required to have a laptop
  computer with wireless access to the Internet
• Update
• Fall 2006, Tablet
• PC among
• university recom-
• mended units

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MessageGrid Ink

• Students with Tablet PCs can submit Ink answers
  to questions

40
MessageGrid Ink
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MessageGrid Ink
42
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) Standard Likert scales as answer
  options for clickers
• (Spring 2006) Alternative views of grid content
• Tree-structured content, reflecting discussion
  threads
• (Summer 2006) Access by non-Clemson faculty
• (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.
47
Where in the World isClemson University?
We are here
Roy Pargas Clemson University pargas_at_clemson.edu