Processing

Arutro told me about a really interesting program that is worth exploring, especially if you have any interest or background in programming and computer science. The site describes the program as: "Processing is a flexible software sketchbook and a language for learning how to code within the context of the visual arts. Since 2001, Processing has promoted software literacy within the visual arts and visual literacy within technology." Basically it is a program that allows you to create art, motion graphics, among hundreds of other applications. The site contains a variety of examples of some of the basic uses. This is one that changes the hue as you drag your mouse across it. Below, you are given the code that makes it work, and it is often surprising how simple the basic stuff is. The language is based on java so if you are good with that program you should feel right at home. Download the program and try entering and tweaking some of the sample code if you are interested. It is a really cool concept and the possibilities are endless. Here are some exhibition examples of work people have done.

Visualizing Education Topics

I work as a TA for the Computer Science department and it is one of my favorite things that I do. But one of the big issues with helping students grasp CS topics is that it is hard to connect the lines of code on your screen to the actions that they represent.

One of the first ways I learned to cope with my understanding in these subjects was to draw pictures. Sometimes pictures drawn on a board or sheet of paper have limitations that animations can overcome. Modeling abstract or 3D concepts is the best way to visualize and learn.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User%3aLucasVB/Gallery

This is a library of gifs featured on wiki pages that help explain mathematical concepts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPRA0W1kECg 

Computer science sorting algorithms visualized with audio representations for the process a computer takes when following different algorithms.

http://www.seemath.com/ 

See math concepts modeled in animations that can be interacted with to help learn.