---
title: "A System Which Allows Students to Explore Algorithms"
authors:
  - "Derek H. Sleeman"
doi: ""
url: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1977/187"
pdf: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1977/0187.pdf"
venue: "Proceedings of the Fifth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence"
year: 1977
pages: "780-785"
track: "Specialized Systems"
keywords:
---

# A System Which Allows Students to Explore Algorithms

Derek H. Sleeman

*Proceedings of the Fifth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence*, pages 780-785.

## Abstract

This paper discusses the problems of making algorithms 'transparent'. The approach taken has been to define a Formal Language for the problem domain which describes the main steps in the algorithm under discussion. This Formal Language has been used in a system which allows the student to enquire about selected parts of the algorithm and in a facility which comments on the student's explanations of certain parts of the algorithm. Some indication is given as to how the system's facilities. can be extended to answer a further range of questions, but it is concluded that in order to make substantial progress in this pursuit a single representation for algorithms is required which can be both executed and used as a basis for explanations.