Recording user actions in a Smalltalk programming environment

Abstract

AESOP (An Electronic Student Observatory Project) is a system for recording, replaying and analysing user actions in LearningWorks, a Smalltalk programming environment. The project aims to: (i) inform educators how best to effect object technology transfer by improving their teaching; (ii) provide an apparatus for identifying problems neophytes experience while learning to program; and (iii) provide empirical evidence for improving the design of the programming environment. Initially AESOP is being targeted on a large scale distance learning course enrolling 5000 mature students per year. The paper describes the project and gives a flavour of the research questions of how neophytes learn programming concepts, in particular object concepts as exemplified by Smalltalk. The implementation of a selection of tools is described and sample data is also explained. Current project status is reviewed and many issues are raised concerning what sort of data to collect.