AlgoTutor Tutorial (2) Refining an algorithm J. Yoo, S. Yoo, C. Pettey, S. Seo, and Z. Dong MTSU Computer Science Department

Welcome to AlgoTutor (2) This tutorial will introduce you to the basics of AlgoTutor for the mapping phase as well as the operation selection phase. AlgoTutor currently only works with Firefox. –It does not work in IE. To use AlgoTutor, you need to have an account. –Use the class account given by your instructor.

Starting AlgoTutor 1.Open FireFox (Don’t use IE) 2.Go to cslabserver2.cs.mtsu.edu 3.Log in using your class account (c#) –Click on Proceed to the AlgoTutor lab –Or you can directly go to Algotutor lab by going to cslabserver.cs.mtsu.edu/algorithm –You will see the list of labs available 4.Click on the lab that you want to do –For example, Lab 1: Introduction to Algotutor will get you to the exercise list 5.Click on an exercise –The problem page will be displayed. 6.Click on solve to start the algorithm composer.solve

Exercise Page

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Drag down the green horizontal bar to view the entire problem description

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Read the problem description

Features in Operation Selection Phase Composing by dragging Checking correctness: Saving your solution:

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Operations to be used (drag to the left) for your algorithm are listed as top level and lower level operations. Lower level operations are used inside of a top level operation.

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Drag top level operations to the left and place them in correct order. To create a top level algorithm

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Drag lower level operations and place them inside of an operation in correct order. To refine top level operations

Composer: Operation Selection Phase You may drag the same operation more than once.

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Need more space? You can collapse an operation containing other operations by clicking ‘-’ symbols.

Composer: Operation Selection Phase You have more room. You can expand the block of operations and view the lower lever operations by clicking ‘+’ symbols.

Feature in Composer: Check correctness Blue box: last correct step Red box: first incorrect step

Feature in Composer: Lifeline If you cannot figure out what is the correct next step, button. Blue box: correct next step to be used

Composer: Operation Selection Phase Save your current algorithm Done with ordering, move to parameter mapping phase. to be filled in the parameter mapping phase

Algorithm refinement in Parameter Mapping Phase When you move to the parameter mapping phase, –AlgoTutor displays the standard solution –Standard solution: a correct solution provided by the teacher. –It may be slightly different from your algorithm in the ordering phase.

Composer: Parameter Mapping Phase Parameters/variables to be used (drag to the left) in the algorithm Select one and drag it to ?. Check the correctness

January 13, 3:35 PM Click on ? Click on the down arrow. Composer: Parameter Mapping Phase Alternatively!

January 13, 3:35 PM Composer: Parameter Mapping Phase

Done with mapping, move to next level

Features in Parameter Mapping Phase Mapping by dragging Checking correctness: Saving your solution:

Feature in Composer: Check correctness