DotConnect - Graphs and Trees

DotConnect is a series of lessons, in the form of a website, that focuses on Introductory Graph Theory and Algorithms.

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Inspiration

Transitioning from the resource-rich environment of high school to the often sparse and outdated resources of college can be a jarring experience for freshmen. The frustration is even more real, as our students find themselves navigating courses with only a few ancient, poorly-made slides or decade-old handwritten notes from seniors. Despite this, the reality is that within the confines of a tightly-packed semester, it’s nearly impossible to curate high-quality course materials for every subject due to the constraints of both time and energy.

The long chapters full of definitions in case of Introductory Graph Theory, were especially difficult to review on the night before exams, and it was not easy to visualise the different traversal and search algorithms. Also, most of the free resources online were lacking in terms of structure and engaging resources.

So, in our attempt to solve this, we made our own website for short-on-time undergrad students, and complete beginners to learn basic concepts of graph theory. Our goal was to design the website in a manner that facilitates as a helping tool for both teachers during lectures, and for students in their revisions.

What it does

DotConnect serves as an approachable introduction to the often intimidating world of graph theory. The website offers a comprehensive overview of basic graph theory concepts, complete with visual aids and clear explanations. One of the standout features is our integrated code editors, which allow users to generate their own graphs and trees, testing different traversal and search algorithms. This hands-on approach lets beginners validate their code against our graph generators, reinforcing their learning. With lessons arranged sequentially, DotConnect functions like a concise course that users can easily complete in a short time. The interactive graph simulations and step-by-step explanations for each topic make it easier to grasp and retain complex concepts.

How we built it

We built the entire website from scratch using frontend languages i.e. HTML5, CSS3, JS and tools. We used Git and GitHub for version control and collaboration.

Challenges we ran into

As first-timers, navigating the fast-paced culture of a hackathon and creating a product within a tight timeframe was a completely new experience for our team. Despite having a clear vision for our product from the start, the lack of experience in web development and version control made the process daunting. We had to let go of some backend features we initially planned to implement, but we didn’t let that stop us. We persisted, learning and adapting as we went along.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Our team is incredibly proud of the features we've brought to life on DotConnect, especially the thoughtful research that went into designing the lessons for each section. We're particularly excited about our graph generators and the successful implementation of several complex algorithms. What makes this journey even more rewarding is that we learned web development on the fly. The progress we've made, coupled with the invaluable experiences from the hackathon, has been a source of great pride for us.

What we learned

Throughout this journey, we delved into frontend development and mastered the essentials of version control, learning to navigate the intricacies of coding and collaboration. We honed our research skills, tackled troubleshooting and debugging challenges, and embraced the fast-paced culture of hackathons. Working together as a team, we also learned how to create an engaging, educational product designed specifically for young learners, balancing technical complexity with accessibility. Each of these experiences has contributed to our growth, both as developers and as problem solvers.

What's next for DotConnect - Graphs and Trees

We're planning to expand DotConnect with more advanced lessons and additional exercises to challenge and engage users. On the backend, we aim to implement features like tracking each user's progress through the lessons. Looking ahead, we're excited to introduce DotConnect to real classrooms and students, making it a valuable educational tool in the hands of young learners and educators alike.

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