TY - GEN
T1 - Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study
AU - Nicolalde-Rodriguez, Damian
AU - Urquiza-Fuentes, Jaime
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 IEEE.
PY - 2018/10/23
Y1 - 2018/10/23
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.
AB - 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.
KW - Compilers
KW - Educational technologies
KW - Software visualization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056889809&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537
DO - 10.1109/VLHCC.2018.8506537
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85056889809
T3 - Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC
SP - 313
EP - 314
BT - Proceedings - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018
A2 - Kelleher, Caitlin
A2 - Engels, Gregor
A2 - Fernandes, Joao Paulo
A2 - Cunha, Jacome
A2 - Mendes, Jorge
PB - IEEE Computer Society
T2 - 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2018
Y2 - 1 October 2018 through 4 October 2018
ER -