2011
Authors
Queiros, R; Oliveira, L; Leal, JP; Moreira, F;
Publication
COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATIONS - ICCSA 2011, PT V
Abstract
The LMS plays a decisive role in most eLearning environments. Although they integrate many useful tools for managing eLearning activities, they must also be effectively integrated with other specialized systems typically found in an educational environment such as Repositories of Learning Objects or ePortfolio Systems. Both types of systems evolved separately but in recent years the trend is to combine them, allowing the LMS to benefit from using the ePortfolio assessment features. This paper details the most common strategies for integrating an ePortfolio system into an LMS: the data, the API and the tool integration strategies. It presents a comparative study of strategies based on the technical skills, degree of coupling, security features, batch integration, development effort, status and standardization. This study is validated through the integration of two of the most representative systems on each category - respectively Mahara and Moodle.
2012
Authors
Verdu, E; Regueras, LM; Verdu, MJ; Leal, JP; de Castro, JP; Queiros, R;
Publication
COMPUTERS & EDUCATION
Abstract
Several Web-based on-line judges or on-line programming trainers have been developed in order to allow students to train their programming skills. However, their pedagogical functionalities in the learning of programming have not been clearly defined. EduJudge is a project which aims to integrate the "UVA On-line Judge", an existing on-line programming trainer with an important number of problems and users, into an effective educational environment consisting of the e-learning platform Moodie and the competitive learning tool QUESTOURnament. The result is the EduJudge system which allows teachers to apply different pedagogical approaches using a proven e-learning platform, makes problems easy to search through an effective search engine, and provides an automated evaluation of the solutions submitted to these problems. The final objective is to provide new learning strategies to motivate students and present programming as an easy and attractive challenge. EduJudge has been tried and tested in three algorithms and programming courses in three different Engineering degrees. The students' motivation and satisfaction levels were analysed alongside the effects of the EduJudge system on students' academic outcomes. Results indicate that both students and teachers found that among other multiple benefits the EduJudge system facilitates the learning process. Furthermore, the experiment also showed an improvement in students' academic outcomes. It must be noted that the students' level of satisfaction did not depend on their computer skills or their gender.
2003
Authors
Tomas, AP; Leal, JP;
Publication
PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF DECLARATIVE LANGUAGES, PROCEEDINGS
Abstract
We propose an interesting application of Constraint Logic Programming to automatic generation and explanation of mathematics exercises. A particular topic in mathematics is considered to investigate and illustrate the advantages of using the CLP paradigm. The goal is to develop software components that make the formulation and explanation of exercise's easier. We describe exercises by grammars which enables us to get specialized forms almost for free, by imposing further conditions through constraints. To define the grammars we concentrate on the solving procedures that are taught instead of trying to abstract an exercise template from a sample of similar exercises. Prototype programs indicate that Constraint Logic Programming frameworks may be adequate to implement such a tool. These languages have the right expressiveness to encode control on the system in an elegant and declarative way.
2008
Authors
Tomas, AP; Leal, JP; Domingues, MA;
Publication
ADVANCES IN WEB BASED LEARNING - ICWL 2007
Abstract
AGILMAT is a web application designed to help students learn Mathematics, with focus on high-school algebra and calculus drills. A modular and extensible architecture and a wizard-based configuration interface decoupled from the system core are major design features of AGILMAT. The drill expressions are specified by grammars and constraints imposed by default profiles and user options, so that AGILMAT may support distinct learning levels and stages. The core system uses symbolic manipulation and automated reasoning to provide correct answers for the drills. The paper shows how AGILMAT may be used to create and customize drills automatically.
2007
Authors
Leal, JP; Domingues, MA;
Publication
SOFSEM 2007: Theory and Practice of Computer Science, Proceedings
Abstract
The general problem addressed in this paper is the rapid development of web interfaces to software systems using only their command line interface. This kind of system is frequently developed in environments that greatly differ from those where web interface will be implemented. In this setting it is also important to maintain a loose coupling between the web interface and the system it controls since the latter must be able to continue its normal development independently of the former. We propose a framework to develop web interfaces targeted to these systems whose main feature is the fact that it can be extended without requiring code programming. The hot spots of our framework are XML configuration files to define the interface data, how this data is mapped into the system's commands, and how commands output and the interaction state is mapped into web formatting languages. With this approach the web interface is kept separated from the system it controls, it is easy to define and modify, and is able to capture enough domain knowledge to be a real advantage for the novice or sporadic user. In this paper we present the proposed framework architecture, loosely inspired in the MVC pattern, its implementation on Java servlet containers, and its application to the AGILMAT system, a high-school mathematical problem generator developed using constrained grammars.
1994
Authors
Leal, JP;
Publication
Programming Language Implementation and Logic Programming, 6th International Symposium, PLILP'94, Madrid, Spain, September 14-16, 1994, Proceedings
Abstract
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