Virtual Manipulative -- BST search

Recommendation

Has Potential

Link

http://gustavus.edu/academics/mcs/max/concabs/applets/BST/

Delivery Method

Java Applet

License

Unavailable

Language

English

Author

Max Hailperin

Institution

Gustavus Adolphus College

Project

StandAlone

RelationshipToProject

StandAlone

Works

Yes

Description

Shows in detail how to insert into a BST, using a display based on "opening nested boxes" when a given branch is followed.

Evaluation

This AV has some interesting ideas. A good aspect is that it shows in some detail how search is done in a BST, from the "point of view" of the algorithm working through the tree. This is in contrast to standing back and seeing pointers moving through the tree. It might help students see this in a new perspective. It is also good in that it focuses on how the find algorithm works, rather than just seeing the result. The main downside is that it doesn't do anything more than find, which is generally not a difficult concept for students. It would not be a big step to extend this to insert. All that would be needed is to have the inserted value sit below the tree area, and the user can move it into the appropriate box (empty leaf node) when it becomes available. I don't see immediately how this could be extended to deletion, which is what students really have trouble with.

ActivityLevel

Random Data; Step Control

GoodFor

Teaching the Concept

Screenshots

Videos

References

HowToUse

First Visited

2008-03-17

Last Visited

2009-04-28

Last Updated

1999

Topic

BinarySearchTrees

Community

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