Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study

Damian Nicolalde-Rodriguez; Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes

doi:10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537

Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study

Damian Nicolalde-Rodriguez
, Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes

Faculty of Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This work studies the effect of using software visualization to teach syntax directed translation, a complex topic within compiler subjects. A trial was conducted with 34 students using LISA as the visualization tool. It was divided in two phases. Firstly, student's experience during compilers construction labs was studied, comparing LISA versus CUP. All participants used both tools and answered a questionnaire. LISA was scored as more motivational and easier to use. Moreover, key theoretical concepts were better identified with LISA. Secondly, a typical lecture (control group) was compared against a lecture using LISA (treatment group). Students were randomly distributed between both groups and answered a knowledge test following the lectures. Results showed that the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group. However, areas for improvement have been detected even in the treatment group. These improvements could be addressed by enhancing the visualization tool with features to increase student engagement.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018
Editors	Caitlin Kelleher, Gregor Engels, Joao Paulo Fernandes, Jacome Cunha, Jorge Mendes
Publisher	IEEE Computer Society
Pages	313-314
Number of pages	2
ISBN (Electronic)	9781538642351
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537
State	Published - 23 Oct 2018
Event	2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018 - Lisbon, Portugal Duration: 1 Oct 2018 → 4 Oct 2018

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC
Volume	2018-October
ISSN (Print)	1943-6092
ISSN (Electronic)	1943-6106

Conference

Conference	2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018
Country/Territory	Portugal
City	Lisbon
Period	1/10/18 → 4/10/18

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 IEEE.

Funding

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research leading to theseresults has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [grant number TIN2015-66731-C2-1-R]

Funders	Funder number
Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness	TIN2015-66731-C2-1-R

Keywords

Compilers
Educational technologies
Software visualization

Access to Document

10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537

Cite this

Nicolalde-Rodriguez, D., & Urquiza-Fuentes, J. (2018). Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study. In C. Kelleher, G. Engels, J. P. Fernandes, J. Cunha, & J. Mendes (Eds.), Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018 (pp. 313-314). Article 8506537 (Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC; Vol. 2018-October). IEEE Computer Society. https://doi.org/10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537

Nicolalde-Rodriguez, Damian ; Urquiza-Fuentes, Jaime. / Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study. Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018. editor / Caitlin Kelleher ; Gregor Engels ; Joao Paulo Fernandes ; Jacome Cunha ; Jorge Mendes. IEEE Computer Society, 2018. pp. 313-314 (Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC).

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abstract = "This work studies the effect of using software visualization to teach syntax directed translation, a complex topic within compiler subjects. A trial was conducted with 34 students using LISA as the visualization tool. It was divided in two phases. Firstly, student's experience during compilers construction labs was studied, comparing LISA versus CUP. All participants used both tools and answered a questionnaire. LISA was scored as more motivational and easier to use. Moreover, key theoretical concepts were better identified with LISA. Secondly, a typical lecture (control group) was compared against a lecture using LISA (treatment group). Students were randomly distributed between both groups and answered a knowledge test following the lectures. Results showed that the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group. However, areas for improvement have been detected even in the treatment group. These improvements could be addressed by enhancing the visualization tool with features to increase student engagement.",

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doi = "10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537",

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Nicolalde-Rodriguez, D & Urquiza-Fuentes, J 2018, Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study. in C Kelleher, G Engels, JP Fernandes, J Cunha & J Mendes (eds), Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018., 8506537, Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC, vol. 2018-October, IEEE Computer Society, pp. 313-314, 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018, Lisbon, Portugal, 1/10/18. https://doi.org/10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537

Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study. / Nicolalde-Rodriguez, Damian; Urquiza-Fuentes, Jaime.
Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018. ed. / Caitlin Kelleher; Gregor Engels; Joao Paulo Fernandes; Jacome Cunha; Jorge Mendes. IEEE Computer Society, 2018. p. 313-314 8506537 (Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC; Vol. 2018-October).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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N2 - This work studies the effect of using software visualization to teach syntax directed translation, a complex topic within compiler subjects. A trial was conducted with 34 students using LISA as the visualization tool. It was divided in two phases. Firstly, student's experience during compilers construction labs was studied, comparing LISA versus CUP. All participants used both tools and answered a questionnaire. LISA was scored as more motivational and easier to use. Moreover, key theoretical concepts were better identified with LISA. Secondly, a typical lecture (control group) was compared against a lecture using LISA (treatment group). Students were randomly distributed between both groups and answered a knowledge test following the lectures. Results showed that the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group. However, areas for improvement have been detected even in the treatment group. These improvements could be addressed by enhancing the visualization tool with features to increase student engagement.

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Nicolalde-Rodriguez D, Urquiza-Fuentes J. Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study. In Kelleher C, Engels G, Fernandes JP, Cunha J, Mendes J, editors, Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018. IEEE Computer Society. 2018. p. 313-314. 8506537. (Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC). doi: 10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537

Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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