Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment

1. Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment Dr. Timothy Margush Department of Computer Science The University of Akron

2. The Closed Laboratory • Was introduced to CS curricula in mid to late 1980’s • Has been an important component of many computer science courses, especially at the introductory level Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

3. The Closed Laboratory • Offers a controlled and supervised setting where students could design and test small programs, or use prewritten programs to support experimental inquiries into various issues related to the course objectives • Gives students the opportunity to ask for assistance that will enable them to continue the assignment Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

4. Definitions • Closed laboratory • A scheduled, structured, and supervised assignment that involves the use of computing hardware, software, or instrumentation for its completion • Students complete a closed lab by attending a scheduled session, usually 2-3 hours long, at a specific facility More… Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

5. Definitions • Closed laboratory • Supervision is provided by the instructor or a qualified assistant who is familiar with the details of the assignment • 1991 Report of the ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Curriculum Task Force Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

6. Definitions • ALN • Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN) are people networks for anytime - anywhere learning.  … In ALN learners use computer and communications technologies to work with remote learning resources, including coaches and other learners, but without the requirement to be online at the same time. • The Web of Asynchronous Learning Networks Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

7. Closed laboratory Scheduled Supervised Specific location ALN Anytime Coaches not online at the same time Anywhere Conflict Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

8. The Problem • How can we preserve the closed laboratory component of an introductory level programming course in an ALN environment? Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

9. Issues: Equipment • Originally, closed labs provided access to hardware and software not readily available to students • Now online students have access to powerful hardware at their access point • Free or low-cost software is available to support programming tasks Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

10. Issues: Supervision • Students often need help completing certain tasks within the assignment • Failure to obtain immediate help may prevent them from completing the rest of the lab • This is a significant problem in an ALN implementation of the closed laboratory experience Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

11. Issues: Location • Closed labs are to be held in a specific location, at a scheduled time • In an ALN, this is impossible • Why was this a requirement? • Provide access to equipment • Offer immediate help when required • Allow group interaction Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

12. Programmed Learning • B. F. Skinner – 1950’s • Linear • Branching • Applications • Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) • Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) • Provided immediate and customized feedback Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

13. Simulating Synchronous Supervision • Apply programmed learning techniques • Provide a correct solution to the previous step or suggest resources to read more about the concept • Gives immediate positive feedback if the student gave a correct answer • Allows the student to continue to the next step without the aid of a coach Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

14. WebCT’s Quiz Tool • Supports the linear model of programmed instruction • Does not immediately evaluate responses so feedback must be general in nature • Can be used to automatically grade student responses for evaluation • Some question types require manual grading Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

15. WebCT Quiztool • Question types (WebCT Version 3.x) • Multiple Choice • Matching • Calculated • Short answer • Paragraph Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

16. Feedback • Feedback can be included during question construction • General comments apply to all answers • Specific answers can have individual feedback • Feedback is not visible until all questions have been answered and the quiz has been submitted and graded Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

17. Tool Configuration • To apply the linear model of programmed learning, the quiz should be configured to… • Present one question at a time • Require each question to be answered or skipped before proceeding • Do not allow skipped or answered questions to be revisited • Necessary only if the assignment is graded Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

18. Typical Lab Tasks • Demonstrate understanding of a concept introduced in the lab • Record observations while performing basic programming tasks • Read a program and answer questions about its meaning • Modify or write a section of a program Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

19. Typical Lab Format • Introduction • Describe ideas or techniques to be practiced in the lab • Program reading • Examine an existing program and predict its behavior • Syntax • Locate and correct syntax errors More… Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

20. Typical Lab Format • Semantics • Determine the meaning of statements in a program – possibly with the intent of correcting an error • Analysis • Analyze the performance of a program • Programming • Write code to complete a specific task Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

21. Problem Areas • Syntax • If a specific error is not located, the student may not be able to proceed to the next step • Semantics • A wrong understanding of the meaning of a statement may make it impossible to complete a critical step in the exercise • Programming • The rest of the exercise may depend on the correct completion of a programming task Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

22. Compile the program to discover a syntax error. Explain the problem and then correct the program. Purpose: Demonstrate an understanding of the syntax of the language If the student cannot identify and correct the error, he/she cannot proceed to the next step Example Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

23. You should have added a semicolon to the end of the third statement. Test the corrected program … The next question begins by providing the answer to the previous question Not being able to correct the error would prevent the student from continuing Example Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

24. … Test the corrected program with input data of 298 and 45. Comment on the correctness/ incorrectness of the results. Purpose: Understand the semantics of a program This task should be straightforward to complete, but… The student may not realize that the answer is wrong Example Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

25. When you tested the program, you should have noticed that the answer was “off by 1.” For the given input data, the answer should have been 16. … The student is made aware that the program contains an error The error is identified as being “off by one” – a hint as to the probable cause Example Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

26. … Correct the program so the output is correct. Once the error has been identified, the student must discover the cause and make a correction. This is a programming task. Example Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

27. The for loop executed 1 too many times. One possible correction is: for (k = 1; k <= limit; k++). Be sure the program is correct before going on… The next “frame” provides a possible solution Other solutions may be correct By copying the correct statement into the program, a student could continue on to the next step Example Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

28. Student Responses • “In regards to the HandsOn experience, these exercises are one of the most helpful tools to learn programming.” • “I am most impressed with the HandsOn assignments in particular. … They are very interactive and they illustrate some fundamental concepts in the course.” Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

29. Conclusions • A linear programmed learning approach can be used to provide some degree of asynchronous assistance during a typical computer science closed laboratory assignment • The WebCT Quiztool can be effectively used to deliver these assignments Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning

30. Conclusions • Students value these “hands on” assignments • One improvement suggested by a student: • Separate the instructions and presentation of ideas into a separate document, keeping the questions and feedback in the quiz module for frame by frame presentation Simulating The Closed Laboratory Experience in an ALN Environment 7-th Sloan-C Conference on Asynchronous Learning