An Intelligent Tutoring System for Interactive Learning of Data Structures

The high level of abstraction necessary to teach

data structures

and

algorithmic schemes

has been more than a hindrance to students. In order to make a proper approach to this issue, we have developed and implemented during the last years, at the Computer Science Department of the Complutense University of Madrid, an innovative

intelligent tutoring system

for the interactive learning of data structures according to the new guidelines of the

European Higher Education Area

. In this paper, we present the main contributions to the design of this intelligent tutoring system. In the first place, we describe the tool called

Vedya

for the visualization of data structures and algorithmic schemes. In the second place, the

Maude

system to execute the algebraic specifications of abstract data types using the

Eclipse

system, by which it is possible to study from the more abstract level of a software specification up to its specific implementation in

Java

, thereby allowing the students a self-learning process. Finally, we describe the

Vedya Professor

module, designed to allow teachers to monitor the whole educational process of the students.