A Web-based lab manual for CS 1: an experiment

ABSTRACT

No one can deny the impact the web is having on education. Computer Science education is no exception. Computer literacy classes now include units on web surfing and personal web page creation [6]. Data structures students have web tools for viewing algorithms and dynamic data structures [2, 4-5]. Computer graphics students have 2D and 3D visualization tools [7], and database students learn to access remote databases using ODBC or JDBC over the web [1]. Special courses in web technologies are being added to the curriculum in many departments [3]. It is only natural for a laboratory manual for Computer Science 1 to be presented as an interactive web document. Pedagogically, how does such a laboratory manual compare with the traditional hard-copy manual? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Which approach do students prefer? We sought to answer these and other questions from our empirical study of Computer Science I students. The results of the study and the lessons learned will be described in this article.

REFERENCES

• 1: Sohail Aslam, WEB-based query processing in a database course project, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.297-301, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 2: Ryan S. Baker , Michael Boilen , Michael T. Goodrich , Roberto Tamassia , B. Aaron Stibel, Testers and visualizers for teaching data structures, The proceedings of the thirtieth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.261-265, March 24-28, 1999, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
• 3: Hankins, J., B. Parker and M. Thweatt. Computer Science I: Closed Laboratory manual using UNIX and C++. RonJon Publishing, Inc., 1998.
• 4: Billy B. L. Lim, Teaching Web development technologies in CS/IS curricula, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.107-111, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 5: Thomas L. Naps , Eric Bressler, A multi-windowed environment for simultaneous visualization of related algorithms on the World Wide Web, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.277-281, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 6: Willard C. Pierson , Susan H. Rodger, Web-based animation of data structures using JAWAA, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.267-271, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 7: Gloria Childress Townsend, Turning liabilities into assets in a general education course, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.58-62, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.5 On-line Information Services
          Subjects: Web-based services
  H.4 INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
      H.4.3 Communications Applications

          Nouns: Internet
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Training, help, and documentation
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces
          Subjects: Web-based interaction

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Human Factors, Management, Measurement, Performance, Theory