An Animated Cryptographic Learning Object

Algorithmic animation has been the focus of intense research in many disciplines and its impact on the educational process has been marked by increasing learner autonomy. Research in this field is driven by the belief that algorithm animation can be a more effective means of instruction than manual or verbal modes of delivery. Encryption algorithms in particular offer an interesting domain for the application of animation principles in learner/content interaction. The main challenge however has been how to design effective animations with a pedagogical value. This paper is concerned with the presentation of an animation of the DES algorithm that exhibits many of the features of useful instructional material. Its pedagogical value is expressed in terms of intrinsic qualities and, in particular, the degree of interactivity and the granularity of abstraction.