ParseIT: A Tool for Teaching Parsing Techniques

We describe ParseIT, a tool to help students understand the concept of parsing in an undergraduate Compiler Design course. Given a grammar, the tool generates multiple choice questions for concepts related to parsing. The tool evaluates students’ attempts and provide hints for incorrect attempts. The hints are also generated in the form of specific questions about any correct choice that is missed or any incorrect choice that is selected. For grammars that can be parsed through the textbook LL or LR algorithms, an interesting form of hint generated is an input string that helps student identify incorrectly filled cells of a parsing table. The tool enables interactive and active learning of parsing concepts, resulting in a better understanding. Keywords Intelligent Tutoring ; Education; Programming; Compilers

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2016
• Where: SIGCSE
• Authors: Amey Karkare, Nimisha Agrawal
• Keywords: Education, SIGCSE 2016