published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

Web services have made many kinds of data and computing services available. However, to use web services often requires significant programming efforts and thus limits the people who can take advantage of them to only a small group of skilled programmers. In this dissertation, I will present a tool called Gneiss that extends the spreadsheet model to support four challenging aspects of using web services: programming two-way data communications with web services, creating interactive GUI applications that use web data sources, using hierarchical data, and using live streaming data. Gneiss contributes innovations in spreadsheet languages, spreadsheet user interfaces and interaction techniques to allow programming tasks that currently require writing complex, lengthy code to instead be done using familiar spreadsheet mechanisms. Spreadsheets are arguably the most successful and popular data tools among people of all programming levels. This work advances the use of spreadsheets to new domains and could benefit a wide range of users from professional programmers to end-user programmers.

Motivation A challenge for researchers at CBCS is the ability to efficiently manage the different data formats that frequently are changed. This handling includes import of data into the same format, regardless of the output of the various instruments used. There are commercial solutions available for this process, but to our knowledge, all these require prior generation of templates to which data must conform.A challenge for researchers at CBCS is the ability to efficiently manage the different data formats that frequently are changed. Significant amount of time is spent on manual pre- processing, converting from one format to another. There are currently no solutions that uses pattern recognition to locate and automatically recognise data structures in a spreadsheet. Problem Definition The desired solution is to build a self-learning Software as-a-Service (SaaS) for automated recognition and loading of data stored in arbitrary formats. The aim of this study is three-folded: A) Investigate if unsupervised machine learning methods can be used to label different types of cells in spreadsheets. B) Investigate if a hypothesis-generating algorithm can be used to label different types of cells in spreadsheets. C) Advise on choices of architecture and technologies for the SaaS solution. Method A pre-processing framework is built that can read and pre-process any type of spreadsheet into a feature matrix. Different datasets are read and clustered. An investigation on the usefulness of reducing the dimensionality is also done. A hypothesis-driven algorithm is built and adapted to two of the data formats CBCS uses most frequently. Discussions are held on choices of architecture and technologies for the SaaS solution, including system design patterns, web development framework and database. Result The reading and pre-processing framework is in itself a valuable result, due to its general applicability. No satisfying results are found when using mini-batch K means clustering method. When only reading data from one format, the dimensionality can be reduced from 542 to around 40 dimensions. The hypothesis-driven algorithm can consistently interpret the format it is designed for. More work is needed to make it more general. Implication The study contribute to the desired solution in short-term by the hypothesis-generating algorithm, and in a more generalisable way by the unsupervised learning approach. The study also contributes by initiating a conversation around the system design choices.

Spreadsheet languages are the most commonly used end-user programming paradigm, yet spreadsheets commonly contain errors. Research shows that a significant number of spreadsheets (20%-40%) created by end users contain errors. In an attempt to reduce this error rate, this work presents an assertion propagation system for an end-user spreadsheet programming language, along with proofs of correctness, and complexity analysis. In addition to the traditional benefits of assertions (dynamic error checking and the documentation of programmer assumptions) this system deductively propagates the implications of assertions. This propagation adds two benefits, the cross-checking of program logic, and additional immediate visual feedback about the range of behavior of the program code for the end-user. / Graduation date: 2002

Researchers in the Forms/3 group have previously developed the WYSIWYT methodology, exploring a way of systematically testing spreadsheet languages. The previous work presented the WYSIWYT methodology for individual spreadsheet cells, and later partially extended it to large grids in which some cells share the same formula. The Forms/3 spreadsheet language supports not only operations of individual cells but also some advanced programming features such as homogeneous grids, recursive programs, and user-defined abstract data types. Therefore, it is important for the testing methodology to support even these more powerful features of the language, not just the "easy parts". In this document, we present extensions to the WYSIWYT methodology for these advanced features. We optimized the visual aspects of testing spreadsheet grids and collected experimental information about scalability. We also developed two possible ways the WYSIWYT methodology could be extended to accommodate recursion in terms of their testing theoretic aspects, implementation strategies, algorithms and time complexities. Since the ultimate goal is to help the people using these languages, we also conducted an empirical study and used its results to inform our choice as to which of these two approaches to adopt. Finally, we developed an approach of testing user-defined abstract data types; here we present design, implementation issues, algorithms and time complexities. / Graduation date: 2002

A GIS analysis procedure was developed to explore relationships between imagery, yield data, soil information, and other assessments of a field or orchard. A set of conversion utilities, a spreadsheet, and an inexpensive shape file viewer were used to manipulate, plot, and display data. Specific features described include procedures used to: 1) display automated yield monitoring and aerial imagery data as surface maps for visual analysis, 2) generate maps from gridded soil sampling schemes that display either the collected soil data values or management information derived from further manipulation of the sample values, 3) evaluate relationships among data layers such as yield monitor, imagery, and soil data, 4) conduct an upper boundary line evaluation of potential yield-limiting factors. The analysis process is demonstrated on wheat, meadowfoam, and hazelnut data, from crops grown in Oregon. / Graduation date: 2002

How can rigorous forms of testing be supported in a way that is both compatible with the visual aspect of visual programming languages, and usable by the audiences using those languages - even when the audience has no background in software engineering? Visual programs are likely to contain at least some errors, and supporting a visual form of testing would give users a way to spot those errors early in the program's life. In previous work, we have developed a visual testing methodology known as WYSIWYT, for use in visual spreadsheet languages, and in this work, we show formally that this methodology can be generalized to screen transition diagrams. The algorithms and accompanying proof of the coverage equivalence that they ensure provide the mechanisms needed for the screen transition paradigm to incorporate WYSIWYT testing for both professional and end-user programming audiences. / Graduation date: 2004 / Best scan available for figures. Original is blurry.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Computer Science, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Η παρούσα έρευνα εντάσσεται στην ευρύτερη επιστημονική περιοχή της διδακτικής αξιοποίησης των υπολογιστικών περιβαλλόντων στην επίλυση προβλημάτων. Αφορά τη διερεύνηση των δυνατοτήτων των υπολογιστικών περιβαλλόντων και της υποστήριξής τους στη μάθηση και γενικότερα στη γνωστική ανάπτυξη των μαθητών. Συγκεκριμένα, εστιάζει στο πως το περιβάλλον γενικού σκοπού των Ηλεκτρονικών Λογιστικών Φύλλων (ΗΛΦ) μπορεί να αξιοποιηθεί στην κατασκευή αλγεβρικών εκφράσεων που αποτελούν τη λύση των λεκτικών μαθηματικών προβλημάτων (ΛΜΠ). Στο πλαίσιο αυτό διερευνήθηκε η επίδραση των βασικών λειτουργιών του περιβάλλοντος των ΗΛΦ στη γνωστική διαδικασία της επίλυσης ΛΜΠ. Ειδικότερα, η έρευνα εστιάζει στην επίδραση της επαλήθευσης των λύσεων που υποστηρίζει το περιβάλλον αλλά και τη γνώση του χειρισμού των βασικών λειτουργιών του περιβάλλοντος στη διαδικασία επίλυσης ΛΜΠ. Για τη διεξαγωγή της έρευνας ακολουθήθηκε ποσοτική προσέγγιση, με συνδυασμό ποιοτικών και ποσοτικών δεδομένων, τα οποία αναλύθηκαν ποσοτικά. Αρχικά, μελετήθηκε η εξοικείωση των φοιτητών με τις βασικές λειτουργίες εισαγωγής τύπων των ΗΛΦ και ακολούθως η επίλυση προβλήματος με αυτά. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτελείται από φοιτήτριες του Τμήματος Επιστημών Εκπαίδευσης και Αγωγής στην Προσχολική Ηλικία (ΤΕΕΑΠΗ) του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Η ανάλυση των δεδομένων που αφορούν την επίλυση προβλημάτων, αφενός με «μολύβι-χαρτί» και αφετέρου στο περιβάλλον των ΗΛΦ, έδειξε ότι το περιβάλλον των ΗΛΦ συμβάλει στην επίλυση προβλήματος αφού φαίνεται να υποστηρίζει τη μετάβαση από αριθμητικού σε αλγεβρικού τύπου λύσεις και ταυτόχρονα παρέχει εργαλεία τα οποία διευκολύνουν τις φοιτήτριες να επαληθεύσουν τις λύσεις τους. Επιπρόσθετα, από την ανάλυση των δεδομένων σχετικά με την εξοικείωση των φοιτητών με τις βασικές λειτουργίες εισαγωγής τύπων φάνηκε ότι η πλειονότητα των φοιτητών είναι σε θέση να χρησιμοποιήσει τις λειτουργίες αυτές για τη διατύπωση τύπων στο περιβάλλον των ΗΛΦ. Στο ίδιο πλαίσιο, παρατηρήθηκε ότι η άμεση ανάδραση του λογισμικού μέσω των μηνυμάτων λάθους που εμφανίζονται από τη μη ορθή εισαγωγή τύπου φαίνεται να κινητοποιεί τους φοιτητές να διορθώσουν τα λάθη τους, στις περισσότερες των περιπτώσεων, με επιτυχία. Τέλος, η διερευνητική ανάλυση, που έλαβε χώρα στη συνέχεια, είχε στόχο να προσδιορίσει τις συσχετίσεις συγκεκριμένων παραγόντων με την επίλυση του κάθε προβλήματος με το περιβάλλον των ΗΛΦ. Συγκεκριμένα, ανέδειξε άμεσες συσχετίσεις, τόσο της πρότερης επιλυτικής ικανότητας όσο και της συχνότητας επαλήθευσης των λύσεων καθώς και την έμμεση συσχέτιση της εξοικείωσης με τις βασικές λειτουργίες εισαγωγής τύπων. Η επιβεβαιωτική ανάλυση με χρήση μοντέλων δομικών εξισώσεων (structural equation modeling) που πραγματοποιήθηκε στα δεδομένα της έρευνας επιβεβαίωσε τις παραπάνω εκτιμήσεις. / This study is situated within the research area of the educational implementation of software environments in problem solving. The study is relevant to the investigation of the potential and support of software environments as tools for learning, and their links to the cognitive development of the students. More specifically, it focuses on the employment of spreadsheets in mathematics education for the construction of algebraic expressions and the solution of story problems. Within this framework, the impact of the affordances of the environment on the cognitive processes of students during problem solving tasks was investigated. The study focuses on the impact of the process for the verification of the solution which is supported by the environment, as well as on the impact of the existing knowledge and skills relevant to the manipulation of the spreadsheet environment elements and the interaction with the interface, during the process of problem solving. We employed a quantitative research approach and we combined qualitative and quantitative data which were quantitatively analysed. The existing experience of the students with the main functions for entering formulas in the spreadsheets as well as their problem solving processes with spreadsheets were initially tested. The sample of our study was consisted of students of the Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education of the University of Patras. Analysis of the data relevant to the problem solving process with pen and paper and by employing the spreadsheets indicated that the computer environment of the spreadsheets contributes to the solution of the problem. It seems that the computer spreadsheet environment supports the transition from numeric to algebraic solutions and also provides the tools which can facilitate the verification of the solution by the students. Concerning the prior experience and knowledge of the students with the functions for entering formulas, data analysis also indicated that the majority of the students were able to employ these functions for constructing formulas in the computer spreadsheet environment. Within this context, it was observed that immediate feedback provided by the software through the error messages upon an erroneous formula insertion, alerted the students so as to successfully, in most of the cases, revise and correct their mistakes. Finally, through an exploratory analysis, we aimed at defining the impact of specific factors on the solution of each of the problems in the computer spreadsheet environment. The analysis indicated the direct impact of both prior problem solving skills and of the frequency of solution verifications, and also the indirect impact of the knowledge and skills of the functions of the environment for entering formulas. Confirmatory data analysis through Structural Equation Modeling further confirmed these indications.

Nessa dissertação é apresentada uma proposta de trabalho de Matemática Financeira no Ensino Médio, utilizando planilhas eletrônicas, para resolver alguns dos principais problemas inerentes a certas movimentações financeiras via recursão, tais como o planejamento de uma previdência privada e o pagamento parcelado de dívidas, dentre outros. O principal objetivo é suprir uma lacuna no que diz respeito à existência de material didático voltado para o nível de ensino abordado, como foi possível constatar a partir da análise de diversos livros didáticos. Além da proposta citada e da análise de livros didáticos, essa dissertação contém uma análise das sessões de trabalho com estudantes de Ensino Médio, utilizando o material apresentado, bem como uma explicação mais detalhada do método recursivo proposto. Espera-se que tal material possa ser utilizado por professores interessados em estudar o tema com seus alunos, sem necessariamente possuir conhecimento prévio do assunto e/ou receber orientações adicionais sobre o método de trabalho. / In this dissertation we present a proposal to study Financial Math in High School, using spreadsheets to solve some of the main problems inherents to certain financial process via recursion, such as the planning of a private welfare and payment by instalments, among others. The main target is to fill a gap concerning the existence of textbooks in the teaching level approached, which was possible to verify from the analysis of various textbooks. In addition to the proposal and the textbooks analysis, this dissertation contains an analysis of the work sessions in class with High School students, using the presented textbook, as well as a detailed explanation of the recursive method proposed. We hope that this textbook can be used for teachers interested in study the theme with their students, without previous knowledge from the subject and/or without extra orientations about the method.