Collaborative active textbooks:algorithms animation on the web

Abstract

The paper describes the design and implementation of a java-based system.JCATA of building web-based collaborative active textbooks on algorithms.JCATA augments the power of web pages for publishing passive multimedia information with an interactive algorithm animation system.In JCATA:teachers can join the system and teach different topics.students can select one topic or one teacher and form a teaching group.In a teaching group, the teacher and students can teach and discuss synchronously. A demonstratioin panel is provided to demonstrate the algorithms animatedly. In addition , A test panel is also provided to clients. Then they can exercise the examples of algorithms by themselves.Ourexperimental results show that a java-based system of building web-based collaborative active textbooks on algorithms can achieve good learning effect for distance education.