Image-processing projects for an algorithms course

Courses on algorithm analysis often include little programming, and do not emphasize application of advanced techniques to practical problems. On the other hand, students usually prefer hands-on learning, and may lack motivation to study theory. We augmented an algorithms course with a series of programming tasks, which involved application of the course material to image processing. These tasks motivated the students, and led to better understanding and retention of theoretical material. They also enabled the students to learn the basics of representing and manipulating images, along with the algorithm theory.