ERIC Number: ED288505
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-Jun
Pages: 22
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
An Integrated Textbook, Video, and Software Environment for Novice and Expert Prolog Programmers. Technical Report No. 23.
Eisenstadt, Marc; Brayshaw, Mike
This paper describes a Prolog execution model which serves as the uniform basis of textbook material, video-based teaching material, and an advanced graphical user interface for Prolog programmers. The model, based upon an augmented AND/OR tree representation of Prolog programs, uses an enriched "status box" in place of the traditional AND/OR tree node to show precise details of clause head/body processing and to deal correctly with the "cut." The purpose of this integrated environment is to address two hitherto unreconciled goals: (1) to provide a clear and consistent model of Prolog program execution for novices that can be used for teaching, exercises, and self-paced study; and (2) to provide an advanced graphical interface for logic programming that is usable by Prolog experts in real world application domains, and that provides no conceptual change from (1). The end result comprises a textbook/workbook combination which enables students to work through "paper-and-pencil" execution snapshots; video animation sequences showing detailed run-throughs of moderately complex Prolog programs; and a working graphical tracer/debugger currently running on Apollo workstations. Seventeen references are listed. (Author/RP)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Open Univ., Milton Keynes, (England). Human Cognition Research Lab.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A