Interactive animations in teaching and learning algorithms

Abstract

Algorithm animations have been used in the teaching of informatics since 80-years of the twentieth century. Over the last 35 years, various researches have been conducted in this area. These studies, however, have not confirmed in many cases that using animations and visualizations is effective in the learning process. In this publication, we summarize some of the principles that are important for creating high-quality multimedia teaching materials. We also briefly mention how students can actively participate in the visualization processes. Finally, we introduce a collection of animations, which we developed to support teaching algorithms and programming at J. Selye University in Komárno.