OpenDSA: beginning a community active-eBook project

  • Authors:
  • Clifford A. Shaffer;Ville Karavirta;Ari Korhonen;Thomas L. Naps

  • Affiliations:
  • Virginia Tech;Aalto University;Aalto University;University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 11th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

In this paper, we present our vision for OpenDSA, an open-source, community-based effort to create a complete active-eBook for Data Structures and Algorithms courses at the undergraduate level. We define active-eBooks as going beyond classic hyper textbooks, being a close integration of text and images with interactive visualizations/simulations and assessment activities. The OpenDSA project is meant to proceed with broad participation from the CS Education community, with maximum flexibility on reuse of materials, and with the ability for a given instructor to pick and choose material from the collection and modify as desired. We discuss the goals of the project, our initial cominunity organization efforts, and the technical infrastructure that we envision for the project. Initial progress is described.