interactive textbook authoring and learning tool for python by riyaadh kajee & julian kanjere
TRANSCRIPT
ITEXTBOOK PYTHON
Interactive Textbook Authoring and Learning Tool for Python
by Riyaadh Kajee & Julian Kanjere
WHY ITEXTBOOK PYTHON? Students with no prior programming
experience struggle with introductory programming courses
Hands on approach to learning programming – interactive assessments
LMS has limited collaboration, is not always specific to programming and complex
Online Compilers and Code Markers have limited collaboration, and sometimes poor feedback
EXAMPLE - ONLINE COMPILER
Image source: codepad.org
iTextBook Python will allow for context specific collaboration and feedback from automatic marker
Limited collaboration
Poor Feedback
USERS
Instructors – Authoring Interactive Programming Textbooks
Students – Learning Programming for students from all backgrounds (with / without prior programming experience)
FEATURES - INSTRUCTOR
CRUD of textbooks with embedded text, audio and video if available
Set different types of Assessments Binary Questions (i.e. True/False) MCQ Coding (online compiler, code comparison
with no need for compiling) Collaboration with students Site Statistics
EXAMPLE – SAKAI SITE STATS
Image Source: http://codingwithcoffee.com/?p=169
FEATURES - STUDENT
Support for reading, highlighting, notepad
Automatic Marking of Programming (Coding) Assessments
Collaboration amongst students and instructors
Hints when completing assessments Recommendations for topics to review
IMPACT
Less steep learning curve for introductory programming
Context Specific Collaboration amongst students and instructors
Personalized feedback to the learner Visual and Verbal stimulation for the students More platforms (Web & Android) = greater
accessibility Contribution to Open Educational Resources
DEVELOPMENT
Web Based (Julian Kanjere) HTML, CSS Server Side Processing (PHP) HCI
Tablet Based (Riyaadh Kajee) Android Java HCI
Database (Combined Effort) SQLite / MySQL
METHODOLOGY – EXTREMME PROGRAMMING (XP)
Ideal for small teams Emphasizes paired programming . Allows the client to be actively involved
in the project. Iterative Development
EVALUATIONUser Evaluation PurposeStudent Questionnaire with closed questions as
well as open ended to cater for student description (Marsden and Jones 2006)
To solicit requirements for interactive learning tool (before/during development of iTextBook Python)
To receive feedback after use of iTextBook Python for learning
Instructor Questionnaire with closed questions as well as open ended to cater for description in own words
To solicit requirements for interactive learning tool (before/during development of iTextBook Python)
To receive feedback after use of iTextBook Python Authoring tool
Instructor Face to Face Interviews To solicit requirements for iTextBook Python Authoring
User Evaluation Purpose
Student Duration of usage To establish access patterns of iTextbook Python as this gives insight into extent of use
Student Average scores from topic evaluations
To have a general idea of whether students are passing the assessments, the assumption being that if they are passing this can be attributed to iTextBook Python
Student Number of unique visits to a topic To establish number of students actively using the tool out of the total number of students that will be registered as users
Student Number and Type of features used per topic and overally (Lecture Notes, Video, Audio, Assessments, Notepad, Collaboration)
To establish most useful features
Instructor Number and Type of Features used when authoring a topic (Lecture Notes, Video, Audio, Assessments, Notepad, Collaboration)
To establish most useful features
RISKSRisk Risk Type Details Likelihood Mitigation Strategy
Adoption Failure Market and People
There may be problems with fulfilling user needs
Medium Roll out prototype Constructive feedback from user
surveys Incentives for Instructors
System Failure Operational Storage of user details for the web-based service may be lost
Medium Testing during prototype phase Backup servers (optional)
Loss of data (source code)
Operational Loss of source code on disk/pc
Medium Regular backups of system Version control
Security Legal and Regulatory
Compromise of user credentials
Low Encryption of User Details in database
Infringement of User Privacy (Legal)
Legal and Regulatory
Use of data obtained from student profiling may be used in unethical manner
Low Privacy Policy Obtain ethical clearance Issue consent forms before
students use the iTextBook or participate in surveys
Delay in obtaining Ethical Clearance
Legal and Regulatory
Receiving ethical clearance to interview people might take some time
Medium We should apply as early as possible for ethical clearance in order to avoid any obstructions ahead
Unable to reach milestones
Operational Due to unforeseen circumstances, might cause a delay in the milestone process
Medium Have meetings on a regular basis to make sure we are on track
Unfamiliarity with devices
Operational Using new technologies which may be unfamiliar
Medium Get acquainted with technologies as early as possible (Android Tablet PC)