Visual and Interactive Tools Incorporated into the Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

数学基础为计算机科学提供了基础，但由于目前教授这些概念的铅笔和纸张环境，许多本科生对这些概念只有肤浅的理解。 这项建议的主要目标是提供一个环境，以更有效，直观和互动的方式呈现和交流抽象的计算机科学概念。学生在大二或大三的时候尽早理解这些材料是至关重要的，因为他们将继续在编程语言，算法和编译器的课程中建立这些材料。在过去的五年里，PI一直在设计和开发交互式和可视化软件工具（FLAP）。LLparse，LRparse），允许学生实验形式语言和自动机中的概念，并获得即时反馈。 PI目前正在课堂上使用这些工具，以交互式讲座的形式，用投影仪显示计算机屏幕。在这种讲座风格中，我们在计算机上解决问题，并通过显示答案来回答问题。PI计划继续将这门课的形式从讲座转移到全实验室（没有讲座）的形式，以提供最大的互动。每个实验课将介绍一个概念，让学生有时间思考和实验这个概念。待开发的材料包括演讲稿和实验室演示文稿格式、问题集和软件工具。这些材料将通过计算机科学教育会议和期刊、新闻组和因特网上的网页传播。

Mathematical foundations provide the basis for computer science, yet many undergraduates obtain a superficial understanding of these concepts due to the pencil and paper environment in which these concepts are currently taught. The main objective of this proposal is to provide an environment for presenting and communicating abstract computer science concepts in a more efficient, visual and interactive manner. It is crucial that students understand this material early on, at the sophomore or junior level, as they will continue to build on this material in courses on programming languages, algorithms, and compilers. For the past five years, the PI has been designing and developing interactive and visual software tools (FLAP. LLparse, LRparse) that allow students to experiment with concepts in formal languages and automata, receiving immediate feedback. The PI is currently using these tools in the classroom in an interactive lecture format with a projector displaying the computer screen. In this lecture style we solve problems during class on the computer with input from students, and answer questions by showing the answer. The PI plans to continue to shift the format of this class away from lectures to an all lab (no lecture) format to provide the maximum interaction. Each lab period will introduce a concept and give students time to think and experiment with this concept. The material to be developed includes manuscripts for the lecture and lab presentation formats, problem sets, and software tools. This material will be disseminated through computer science education conferences and journals, and news groups and web pages on the Internet.