A MODEL FOR IMPROVING SOFTWARE SUPPORT FOR TEACHING THE COURSE “THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE” TO STUDENTS BASED ON INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Keywords:
digital education, theoretical foundations of computer science, software, international experience, JFLAP, Web-CAT, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, logical errors, algorithmic errors, semantic analysis, adaptive learning, pedagogical feedback, diagnostics.Abstract
This article examines the scientific and methodological foundations for improving
the software used to teach the course “Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science” in
higher education institutions based on international experience. The relevance of the
study stems from the fact that automated assessment tools in contemporary digital
learning environments are often limited to evaluating students’ final results and do not
sufficiently identify the underlying causes of errors in their logical and algorithmic
thinking. JFLAP, Web-CAT, and Intelligent Tutoring Systems were selected as examples of
international practice, and their functional, didactic, and diagnostic capabilities were
comparatively analyzed. Based on this analysis, a conceptual model of diagnostic-adaptive
software tailored to the “Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science” course was
developed. The model consists of a task database, student model, knowledge base, error
classifier, semantic analysis module, adaptive feedback generator, and teacher analytics
component. The proposed model provides mechanisms for analyzing student responses
at syntactic, structural, and semantic levels, classifying errors according to their causes,
and delivering individualized pedagogical feedback. The article also substantiates the
scientific novelty of the model, the pedagogical conditions for its implementation, and the
criteria for its experimental validation.
References
1. Rodger S. H., Finley T. J. JFLAP: An Interactive Formal Languages and Automata Package. – Jones & Bartlett
Learning, 2006.
2. Cavalcante R., Finley T., Rodger S. H. A Visual and Interactive Automata Theory Course with JFLAP 4.0 //
SIGCSE Bulletin. – 2004. – DOI: 10.1145/1028174.971349.
3. Dermevald D., Isotani S. Use of Feedback in Intelligent Tutoring Systems: A Systematic Literature Review //
Interactive Learning Environments. – 2025. – DOI: 10.1080/10494820.2025.2565681.
4. Unraveling the Mechanisms and Effectiveness of AI-Assisted Feedback in Education: A Systematic Literature Review // Computers and Education Open. – 2025. – Vol. 9. – Article 100284. – DOI: 10.1016/j.caeo.2025.100284.
5. Létourneau A., Deslandes Martineau M., Charland P., Karran J. A., Boasen J., Léger P. M. A Systematic Review of
AI-Driven Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) in K-12 Education // npj Science of Learning. – 2025. – Vol. 10. – Article 29. –
DOI: 10.1038/s41539-025-00320-7.
6. Rodger S. H., Lim J., Reading S. Increasing Interaction and Support in the Formal Languages and Automata
Theory Course // ITiCSE. – 2007. – DOI: 10.1145/1268784.1268803.
7. Rodger S. H. Learning Automata and Formal Languages Interactively with JFLAP // ITiCSE Working Group
Reports. – 2006. – DOI: 10.1145/1140124.1140270.
8. Edwards S. H., Pérez-Quiñones M. A. Web-CAT: A Web-Based Center for Automated Testing. – Virginia Tech.
9. Moodle Documentation. Quiz and Assessment Functionality [Electronic resource]. – Moodle.org.
10. Duke University. CompSci 334: Formal Language and Automata with Applications. – Spring 2026: Syllabus.