A framework for code-level tracing of map-based algorithm visualizations

Abstract

This paper presents a framework that has been developed to support code-level tracing of the algorithm visualization capabilities of the Map-based Educational Tools for Algorithm Learning (METAL) project. METAL provides graph data based on real-world highway systems and tools to visualize that data and algorithms which operate on it. Data is shown plotted on maps and in text, color-coded to indicate the progress of the algorithm. The new code-level tracing framework allows specific algorithms to be implemented as a series of small actions, most of which correspond to lines of code that can be highlighted as they are executed. This allows a student to see how specific lines of code affect the data structures and variables as the algorithm makes progress toward a solution.