Things are Clicking in MessageGrid Roy P. Pargas Computer Science Teaching with Technology Symposium May 9, 2006

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 2 Overview MessageGrid: MessageGrid: Web-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroomWeb-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroom

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 3 Overview MessageGrid: MessageGrid: Web-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroomWeb-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroom Recent additions: Clickers and Ink Recent additions: Clickers and Ink Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 4 Software Clickers Eric Mazur Eric Mazur Harvard UniversityHarvard University Physics for non-majorsPhysics for non-majors Hardware clickersHardware clickers How to Become a Millionaire How to Become a Millionaire Lifeline question to audienceLifeline question to audience

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 5 Algorithm Analysis Question Analyze algorithms below and select among: (1) A is O(n log n) and B is O(n), (2) A is O(log n) and B is O(n2), (3) A is O(n log n) and B is O(n2), (4) A is O(n) and B is O(log n), (5) A is O(log log n) and B is O(n2), (6) None of the above.

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 6 Algorithm Analysis Results

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 7 Algorithm Analysis Question Revisited after Peer-discussion Correct answer: 3

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 8 Towers of Hanoi (Question) Brief applet demonstration of the solution to the problem for sizes n=3 and n=4 Question: How many moves does it take to solve the general n-disk problem? Options: (1) 2 n−1, (2) 2 n−1 −1, (3) 2 n−1 +1, (4) 2 n+1, (5) 2 n+1 −1, (6) 2 n+1 +1, (7) 2 n, (8) 2 n −1, (9) 2 n +1, (10) None of the above.

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 9 Towers of Hanoi (Didn’t show these results until after 2 nd question asked)

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 10 Towers of Hanoi (Revisited)

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 11 Mystery Recursion Question What does the following recursive algorithm do? What does the following recursive algorithm do? public static int Mystery(TreeNode t) { if (t == null) if (t == null) return 0; return 0; if ((t.left != null) || (t.right != null)) { if ((t.left != null) || (t.right != null)) { return Mystery(t.left) + Mystery(t.right); return Mystery(t.left) + Mystery(t.right); else else return 1; return 1; } // Mystery

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 12 Mystery Recursion Options Options: Options: 1.Counts total number of nodes in the tree, 2.Counts number of interior nodes, 3.Counts number of nodes with one child, 4.Adds the values of all nodes, 5.Adds the values of all interior nodes, 6.Adds the values of all leaves, 7.None of the above.

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 13 Mystery Recursion Algorithm

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 14 Mystery Recursion (Revisited) Sensed palpable unease among students Sensed palpable unease among students When asked “Who would like to change their answer? And from what to what?” When asked “Who would like to change their answer? And from what to what?” Six raised their handsSix raised their hands Of whomOf whom Four from #1 to #7 Four from #1 to #7 Two from #2 to #7 Two from #2 to #7

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 15 Mystery Algorithm Revisited + 6 = = = 24

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 16 Clicker Setup

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 17 Clicker Setup

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 18 Clicker Setup

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 19 SIGCSE 2006, My Hotel Room March 2, 2006 ~7:48 am CST

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 20 SIGCSE 2006, My Hotel Room March 2, 2006 ~7:48 am CST

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 21 SIGCSE 2006, My Hotel Room March 2, 2006 ~7:48 am CST Students Absent

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 22 MessageGrid Ink Students with Tablet PCs can submit Ink answers to questions Students with Tablet PCs can submit Ink answers to questions

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 23 MessageGrid Ink

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 24 MessageGrid Ink

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 25 MessageGrid Ink

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 26 Student Evaluation Student Assessment Results (a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g) 1. Clickers helps me learn the course material Posting questions helps me recognize what is difficult in the reading Peer-discussion in class helps me better understand the course material Peer-discussion outside of class helps me better understand the course material Working alone during class helps me learn better than working with seatmates Clickers help me to focus on weaknesses in my understanding of the course material MessageGrid is easy-to-use Agree Disagree N/A

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 27 Future Work (Spring 2006) Alternative views of grid content (Spring 2006) Alternative views of grid content Tree-structured content, reflecting discussion threadsTree-structured content, reflecting discussion threads (Summer 2006) Standard Likert scales as answer options for clickers (Summer 2006) Standard Likert scales as answer options for clickers (Summer 2006) Access by non-Clemson faculty (Summer 2006) Access by non-Clemson faculty (Spring/Summer 2006) Interconnectivity with handheld devices (Spring/Summer 2006) Interconnectivity with handheld devices

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 28 Acknowledgments faculty fellowship from Clemson University ETS-OTEI Laptop Faculty Development Program 2003 Microsoft Content and Curriculum Development Grant (Tom Healy, Mgr.) 2005 Microsoft Research Tablet PC and Computing Curriculum Grant (Jane Prey, Mgr.)

R.P. Pargas Teaching with Technology Symposium May 4, 2006 Clemson University 29 Thank you for your kind attention.