Learning of data structures and algorithms using a distance learning platform

Abstract

Learning has been considered as a non-trivial human activity because it involves some complex tasks. In distance learning there is an additional complexity due to space and time shift in learning and teaching activities. Computer-based distance learning has an incremental difficulty: the use of technological tools by both learning interaction actors (learner and teacher). These tools are generally grouped in a platform system that is usually designed and implemented under some common rules: to allow the development of instructional material, to manage synchronous and asynchronous dialogues, etc. Unfortunately, in the design of this kind of platforms, knowledge about technological aspects can get more attention than learner's knowledge acquisition processes or teacher's strategies: the resultant platforms frequently are no flexible systems that do not support the plug-in of tutoring systems. In this paper we describe a system aimed to support computer-based distance learning of data structures and algorithms. The learner's understanding of this area of Computer Science depends on integration between dynamical visualization and logical reasoning: the presentation of the domain knowledge should put more emphasis on this dynarnism Finally, we discuss about technological feasibility to plug-in our system in a flexible computer-based distance-learning platform being developed.