Enhancing problem-based learning by e-learning: A study with the teaching of data structures and algorithms

Many science subjects involve concepts that are abstract and difficult. In addition to explaining and visualizing the concepts, there is a need to teach the students when and how to apply the concepts to real applications. This paper discusses a study of augmenting the learning process with a web-based quiz system based on the Problem-Based Learning strategy (PBL). With a PBL approach, it is possible to teach difficult concepts and theory in lectures and lead the students to discover how to apply the theory in practice by solving the given problems. A deployment of the system has been applied to a course on data structures and algorithms, which is a difficult subject of computer science. Feedback from the students after the course indicates that the proposed system and teaching method is able to enhance the learning process by clarifying difficult concepts and arouse interests of the students on the subject.