António Manso

Portugol IDE v3.x: A new environment to teach and learn computer programming

Teaching of programming is crucial in every engineering course and particularly in computer courses. Students failure in this domain has led to the development of Portugol IDE, a tool for teaching/learning algorithms. This tool allows algorithms to be coded in mother tongue of portuguese students (portugol) or in flow diagrammatic language (flowchart) and its automatic execution. This paper presents generation 3.x of this tool and describes the advancements therein.

A multiset genetic algorithm for the optimization of deceptive problems

MuGA is an evolutionary algorithm (EA) that represents populations as multisets, instead of the conventional collection. Such representation can be explored to adapt genetic operators in order to increase performance in difficult problems. In this paper we present an adaptation of the mutation operator, multiset wave mutation (MWM), that explores the multiset representation to apply different mutation ratios to the same chromosome, and an adaptation of the replacement operator, multiset decimation replacement (MDR) that preserves multiset representation in the main population and helps MuGA to solve hard deceptive problems. Results obtained in different deceptive functions show that pairing both operators is a robust approach with a high success ratio in most of the problems.

MuGA: multiset genetic algorithm

The traditional representation of populations used in evolutionary algorithms raises two types of problems: the loss of genetic diversity during the evolutionary process and evaluation of redundant individuals. To minimize these problems we developed MuGA, whose most distinctive feature is the representation of populations by multisets, and adapted the evolutionary process to handle the new representation. In this paper we present MuGA algorithm and explore its capacity to preserve the genetic diversity and find many optima using the Knapsack problem. Next we adapted genetic operators for the application of MuGA to real coded problems. The results obtained in a set of benchmark functions of these classes of problems, when compared with competitive algorithms, support our conviction that the multisets are an efficient representation of populations. Future work will focus on identifying limitations and subsequent improvements to the algorithm and its application to other classes of problems.

A multiset genetic algorithm for real coded problems

The Multiset Genetic Algorithm (MuGA) was adapted to real coded problems, tested in benchmark functions, and compared to competitive algorithms. Genetic operators were adapted to take into account the multiset representation of the population, which is the main distinctive feature and advantage of MuGA. The new operators extend existing ones, incorporating the influence of the number of copies each multi-individual has. Preliminary results obtained, without particular tuning efforts, position MuGA close to the best results obtained by other approaches. Future work will improve limitations found in maintaining a high genetic diversity.

Letrinhas: Promoting reading through mobile devices

The acquisition of reading skills is a complex process, fundamental for creating fluent readers and, therefore, for the academic success of students. The use of mobile devices can contribute significantly to learning to read, not only for the enormous potential of m-learning technologies, but also because it places students at the centre of the teaching and learning process. It is in this context that the Letrinhas information system was born. It consists of a digital repository of educational content and multi-platform software that runs on mobile devices. This information system is intended to promote learning and the development of reading in students of the 1st and 2nd cycles of elementary education and provides teachers with tools for monitoring and assessing reading fluency. Its structure allows adaptation to the individual profile of each student as well as to the choice of text or word lists by the teachers.

Using Mobile Technologies in Education: A New Pedagogical Approach to Promote Reading Literacy

Theacquisitionofreadingskills isdecisivefor theacademicachievementofstudents.However, learningtoreadisacomplexprocess.Withthisinmind,severalattemptshavebeenmadetofindnew educationalapproachestoenhancestudents’readingmotivation.Consideringtheenormouspotential ofICTforeducationandtraining,wehavedevelopedadigitalrepositoryofteachingandlearning materialsandamultiplatformapplicationthatrunsonmobiledevices:Letrinhas.Thisinformation systemwasdesignedtopromotethedevelopmentofreadingandtoprovidetoolsformonitoringand assessingreadingskillsagainstthecurriculartargetssetbytheMinistryofEducation.Letrinhaswas evaluatedbyspecialistsandusersandahighlevelofsatisfactionwasobservedamongstudentsand teachersastimeandeffortspenttoconsolidatereadingisconsiderablyreducedwiththisapplication. Thisevaluationalsoenabledtoidentifyfeaturesthatwillbeavailableinthefuture. KEywoRdS Digital Content, Digital Repository, Education, Information System, Letrinhas, M-Learning, Mobile Technologies, Reading Literacy

Information system to promote reading literacy — Letrinhas

The acquisition of reading skills is decisive for the academic achievement of elementary school students. However, unlike other domains of human development, learning to read is a complex process. With this in mind, several attempts have been made to find new educational strategies to foster students reading motivation. That is the context in which Letrinhas appears. Considering the enormous potential of information and communication technologies for education and training, particularly mobile devices, we have developed a digital repository of teaching and learning materials and a multiplatform application that runs on mobile devices. This information system is designed to promote learning and the development of reading in students of the first and second cycles of elementary education and provide teachers with tools for monitoring and assessing reading skills against the curricular targets set by the Ministry of Education. This is no doubt a basic need that is not being met by the applications currently available in the market. The performance of Letrinhas was evaluated by specialists and users in a pilot group and a high level of satisfaction was observed among students and teachers as time and effort spent to consolidate reading is considerably reduced with this application.