Towards Developing an Effective Algorithm Visualization Tool for Online Learning

Although many Algorithm Visualization (AV) tools are available online, most of them are not effective in helping students to learn algorithm and data structures. The reasons for this may be the poor design consideration of the tools to fulfill the learners' needs in terms of pedagogy, usability, and accessibility. This paper reports a work-in-progress research project at Athabasca University on developing an effective algorithm visualization tool for online learning. We analyze the pedagogy, usability, and accessibility goals and their respective features for the online learners and examines how the visualization and user interaction principals can help to achieve these goals in the design process of an effective AV tool. We present a review of the related literature to highlight current and past researches and illustrate the need for better user experience design in AV tools. We then identify the online learners' needs and the context of their activities to design a usable, useful, effective, and pleasurable interactive AV tool. Such a tool can fulfill the pedagogy, usability, and accessibility goals for the online learners.