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jFAST: a java finite automata simulator

Published: 03 March 2006 Publication History

Abstract

Visualization and interactivity are valuable active learning techniques that can improve mastery of difficult concepts. In this paper we describe jFAST, an easy-to-use graphical software tool for teachers and students, with an emphasis on introductory level finite state machine topics. The jFAST software enables visual design, exploration and simulation of a variety of finite state machines, with a primary goal of enhancing teaching effectiveness in this subject, particularly for less advanced computer science students. The architecture and functionality of jFAST are explained, and results of preliminary evaluation are provided.

References

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H. Bergström. Applications, Minimisation, and Visualisation of Finite State Machines. Master's Thesis. Stockholm University, 1998. Related website at: http://www.dsv.su.se/~henrikbe/petc/.
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  • (2024)A model design of learner state change in E-learning platform based on finite state machineThird International Conference on Electronic Information Engineering and Data Processing (EIEDP 2024)10.1117/12.3032959(142)Online publication date: 5-Jul-2024
  • (2024)A Web-Based Educational System for Teaching CompilersIEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies10.1109/TLT.2023.329762617(143-156)Online publication date: 2024
  • (2023)AutomaTutor: An Educational Mobile App for Teaching Automata TheoryFormal Methods: Foundations and Applications10.1007/978-3-031-49342-3_8(131-140)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2023
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cover image ACM Conferences
SIGCSE '06: Proceedings of the 37th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education
March 2006
612 pages
ISBN:1595932593
DOI:10.1145/1121341
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 03 March 2006

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Author Tags

  1. educational software
  2. finite automata
  3. finite state machines
  4. simulation
  5. theory of computation education

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Overall Acceptance Rate 1,595 of 4,542 submissions, 35%

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Cited By

View all
  • (2024)A model design of learner state change in E-learning platform based on finite state machineThird International Conference on Electronic Information Engineering and Data Processing (EIEDP 2024)10.1117/12.3032959(142)Online publication date: 5-Jul-2024
  • (2024)A Web-Based Educational System for Teaching CompilersIEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies10.1109/TLT.2023.329762617(143-156)Online publication date: 2024
  • (2023)AutomaTutor: An Educational Mobile App for Teaching Automata TheoryFormal Methods: Foundations and Applications10.1007/978-3-031-49342-3_8(131-140)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2023
  • (2022)Visualizing the 3SAT to CLIQUE Reduction Process2022 Intermountain Engineering, Technology and Computing (IETC)10.1109/IETC54973.2022.9796851(1-5)Online publication date: May-2022
  • (2020)Evaluation of simulation systems suitable for teaching compiler construction coursesComputer Applications in Engineering Education10.1002/cae.2223128:3(606-625)Online publication date: 31-Mar-2020
  • (2018)Internet-Based Education: A New Milestone for Formal Language and Automata CoursesInformation Technology – New Generations10.1007/978-3-319-77028-4_28(195-200)Online publication date: 2018
  • (2016)Combined Methodology for Theoretical Computing2016 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)10.1109/FIE.2016.7757574(1-7)Online publication date: Oct-2016
  • (2015)Teaching-learning methodology for formal languages and automata theoryProceedings of the 2015 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)10.1109/FIE.2015.7344185(1-7)Online publication date: 21-Oct-2015
  • (2014)Functional Automata - Formal Languages for Computer Science StudentsElectronic Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science10.4204/EPTCS.170.2170(19-32)Online publication date: 12-Dec-2014
  • (2013)Interactive educational simulations for promoting the comprehension of basic compiler construction conceptsProceedings of the 18th ACM conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education10.1145/2462476.2462498(28-33)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2013
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