jueves, 29 de agosto de 2013

Improving Students’ Performance with Visualization of Error Recovery Strategies in Syntax Analysis

J. Urquiza-Fuentes, F.J. Almeida-Martínez, A. Pérez-Carrasco, J.Á. Velázquez-Iturbide. Journal of Research and Practice in Information Technology, Vol. 45, No. 3/4, August 2013, Pages 237-250

Abstract. Visualization technologies can be used to enhance teaching materials. This work is focused on a complex aspect of syntax analysis, syntax error recovery strategies. Compiler visualization is not a new research field, but the authors have not found any visualization tool dealing with this topic. We have enhanced a parser visualization tool called VAST to produce educational visualizations regarding syntax error recovery strategies. We have evaluated the enhanced version of VAST and its visualizations about syntax error recovery strategies. We have detected that students who used the enhanced tool improved their performance developing syntax specifications with error recovery. Consequently, these students significantly improved their learning outcomes regarding error recovery exercises.