Open Interactive Algorithm Visualization

This paper presents a work-in-progress project for developing an open interactive algorithm visualization (AV) website. This development of project is “open”, because we are developing this website as part of our University’s Open Education Resources (OER) initiative. This is “interactive”, because we aim to incorporate interactive functionalities to meet pedagogy, usability, and accessibility needs of the online leaners. In our previous research, we did a detailed survey on the teaching and learning methodologies of the algorithms and data structures and the existing AV websites. Although most AV websites are good at providing some fancy graphics and animations, they did not pay much attention on the learners’ needs in pedagogy, usability, and accessibility. We identified that the leaners pedagogy, usability, and accessibility needs are the three important areas that should be bringing into design considerations for an ideal AV website design. In this work-in-progress paper, we present the current state of our open interactive AV website development and the plan for the future to address learners’ load management through multimedia functionalities in the AV website. Such amendment in the AV website can fulfill the pedagogy, usability, and accessibility goals for the online learners.