Malcolm Macgregor

An Electronic Student Observatory

Summary form only given. AESOP (An Electronic Student Observatory Project) is a collection of computer-based data collection tools for instruction and research in computer science education. Our educational environment is one in which 5000 students study independently at a distance, off-line, using software developed for an entry-level, distance education course in computing. Each student is allocated an academic tutor whose job is to support the student by answering queries and by commenting on and grading assignments. Students and tutors interact primarily through e-mail. The aim of the project is to observe these students unobtrusively, electronically, and automatically, and to record the observations in a manner that is useful for both instruction and research. The important objectives for the recorder are that it must create a transcript short enough to be sent via e-mail (by students who pay phone charges), readable both by humans and automated analysis tools, and replayable, so that the students session can be reproduced on an observers computer. These sometimes conflicting objectives have led to interesting implementation issues, which are discussed in the paper, which also gives a full description of the recorder and associated replayer.

OU LearningWorks: a customized programming environment for Smalltalk modules

We have exploited and adapted Goldbergs LearningWorks framework to produce an environment with new programming tools, visualization tools, and system simulations. The environment is designed to be used via plug-in modules, called LearningBooks, sets of classes and persistent objects, for which we have developed a pedagogic standard that includes, for example, an HTML browser and various of the aforementioned tools and systems. The context for this development has been a distance learning degree-level course in object technology which is enrolling over 5000 mature students per year, mostly in the UK, Western Europe and Singapore. The course, M206, Computing: An Object-oriented Approach from the Open University (OU), will soon be introduced into the USA. While adhering to the original conception of LearningWorks that it promote a software engineering approach of systems building, we have successfully added support for the needs of the distance learning neophyte. By showing various microworlds and programming tools these notes outline the environment we have implemented and deployed.

Recording user actions in a Smalltalk programming environment

AESOP (An Electronic Student Observatory Project) is a system for recording, replaying and analysing user actions in LearningWorks, a Smalltalk programming environment. The project aims to: (i) inform educators how best to effect object technology transfer by improving their teaching; (ii) provide an apparatus for identifying problems neophytes experience while learning to program; and (iii) provide empirical evidence for improving the design of the programming environment. Initially AESOP is being targeted on a large scale distance learning course enrolling 5000 mature students per year. The paper describes the project and gives a flavour of the research questions of how neophytes learn programming concepts, in particular object concepts as exemplified by Smalltalk. The implementation of a selection of tools is described and sample data is also explained. Current project status is reviewed and many issues are raised concerning what sort of data to collect.

Employing object technology to expose fundamental object concepts

We explore technical issues in the design of programming tools, development environments, simulations, code examples, user interface frameworks and pedagogies for a university-level course on object-oriented software development. The course, M206 Computing: An Object-Oriented Approach has been specifically developed for distance learning, and is enrolling over 5,000 students per year (average age 37) in the UK, Europe and Singapore. The course introduces computing via an object-oriented approach. M206 is substantial in extent representing one sixth of a degree. It embodies a practical, industry oriented view of computing and includes programming, analysis, design and group working. Considerable effort has been invested in making the simplicity, consistency and power of object technology accessible to and capable of being applied by beginners. A diverse set of educational media, such as CD-ROMs, TV and the Web, have been deployed as learning resources. We describe the agenda for the course; its object-oriented pedagogy and our strategy for delivery. We explain measures taken to avoid misconceptions about objects, our analysis and design method, and the Smalltalk programming environment we have developed specifically for learners and which is crucial to our approach. We outline how our adherence to the separation of view and domain model leads to technical innovations. Concluding remarks reflect on the benefits a reflexive strategy, both in education and training.