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Colin Higgins

Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science

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Research Summary

The Development of Courseware for Teaching Dr Higgins is head of the Learning Technology Research Group which has been concerned with the development of the CourseMarker (formerly CEILIDH) system.… read more

Selected Publications

Current Research

The Development of Courseware for Teaching Dr Higgins is head of the Learning Technology Research Group which has been concerned with the development of the CourseMarker (formerly CEILIDH) system. The research projects available in this area have been outlined earler (in the section on research groups). Metrics for Object-Oriented Designs and Programs The main aim of this project is to design, implement and empirically evaluate a metric suite capable of differentiating levels of quality amongst object-oriented designs. The building of a quality model would encourage metric development and permit the comparative analysis of different object-oriented designs. Metrics for Java Programs This project is similar to the metrics for object-oriented designs; in this case however the aim is to measure the quality of logic programs written in the Java language. The results would be used, amongst other things, for the automatic assessment of student projects under the University of Nottingham CourseMarker system. Metrics for Logic Programs This project is similar to the metrics for object-oriented designs; in this case however the aim is to measure the quality of logic programs written in the Prolog language. The results would be used, amongst other things, for the automatic assessment of student projects under the University of Nottingham CourseMarker system. Handwriting Recognition based on Human Reading Models Historically, cursive script recognition systems have been modelled on the human writing process. A new system is under development based on human reading models. The paradigm used to realise the model is an object-oriented blackboard system written in C++. Off-Line Cursive Script Recognition Work is in progress on the recognition of handwriting from scanned images. There are many application areas where this is appropriate, from bank cheques recognition to forms filling. Methods invented during the on-line handwriting recognition project, that are appropriate to off-line recognition, will be used. These include feature moment vectors whose parameters are determined from a large data set using genetic algorithms.

  • ABDELRAOUF, A., HIGGINS, C.A., PRIDMORE, T. and KHALIL, M., 2010. Building a multi-modal Arabic corpus (MMAC) International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition. 13(4), 285-302
  • HIGGINS, C.A., BLIGH, B., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2009. Authoring diagram-based CBA with CourseMarker Computers and Education. 52(4), 749-761
  • MA, Y., LEEDHAM, G., HIGGINS, C. and HTWE, S.M., 2008. Segmentation and recognition of phonetic features in handwritten Pitman shorthand Pattern Recognition. 41(4), 1280-1294
  • ASHRAF ABDELRAOUF, COLIN A HIGGINS and KHALIL, M., 2008. A database for Arabic printed character recognition. In: CAMPILHO, A. and KAMEL, M., eds., Image analysis and recognition: 5th international conference, ICIAR 2008, Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal, June 25-27, 2008: proceedings Springer. 567-578
  • YANG, M., LEEDHAM, G., HIGGINS, C. and HTWE, S. M., 2007. Segmentation and recognition of phonetic features in handwritten Pitman shorthand. Pattern Recognition Elsevier. Available at: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.patcog.2007.10.014>
  • AHMADZADEH, MARZIEH, ELLIMAN, DAVID and HIGGINS, COLIN, 2007. The Impact of Improving Debugging Skill on Programming Ability ITALICS. 6(4),
  • BRETT BLIGH, COLIN HIGGINS, 2006. Formative computer based assessment in diagram based domains. Annual Joint Conference Integrating Technology into Computer Science Education In: Proceedings of the 11th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science. 98-102
  • G.R. GRAY, C.A. HIGGINS, 2006. An introspective approach to marking graphical user interfaces SIGCSE bulletin. 38(3), 43
  • HARRISON, C and OMAR, N. AND HIGGINS, C., 2006. Postmodern principles for responsive reading assessment: a case study of a complex online reading task. In: C. HARRISON AND A. WATTS, ed., Reading assessment: from theories to classrooms Slough: National Foundation for Educational Research. pp140-157 (In Press.)
  • N. OMAR, C. HIGGINS, C. HARRISON, D.C. MILLAN, 2006. Evaluating Real-time Online Research Data (RORD) and Verbatim Quotient Detection (VQD): Low Inference Tools to Monitor Outcomes of Unconstrained Authentic Internet Research In: Proceedings of the Sixth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT). 502-506 (In Press.)
  • HIGGINS, C.A., GRAY, G., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2005. Automated assessment and experiences of teaching programming Journal on Educational Resources in Computing (JERIC). 5(3), Article 5
  • HTWE, S.M., HIGGINS, C., LEEDHAM, G. and YANG, M., 2005. Post processing of handwritten phonetic Pitman's shorthand using a Bayesian network built on geometric attributes In: Third International Conference on Advances in Pattern Recognition, ICAPR 2005. Bath, UK, 22-25 August 2005. 569-579
  • OMAR, N., HIGGINS, C. and HARRISON, C., 2005. Investigating an approach for online reading assessment In: ICALT 2005. Fifth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 5-8 July 2005. 526-530
  • ELLIMAN, D.G., HIGGINS, C. and AHMADZAHEH, M., 2005. An Analysis of Pattern of Debugging Among Novice Computer Science Students In: Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 10th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education (ITiCSE).
  • PETER BRUSILOVSKY AND COLIN HIGGINS, 2005. Preface to the special issue on automated assessment of programming assignments: ACM Journal on Educational Resources in Computing (JERIC)
  • ALMA'ADEED, S., HIGGINS, C. and ELLIMAN, D., 2004. Off-line recognition of handwritten Arabic words using multiple hidden Markov models Knowledge-Based Systems. 17(2-4), 75-79
  • AL-MA’ADEED, S., ELLIMAN, D. and HIGGINS, C., 2004. A data-base for Arabic handwritten text recognition research International Arab Journal of Information Technology. 1(1), 118-123
  • YANG, M., LEEDHAM, G., HIGGINS, C.A. and SWE MYO HTWE, ., 2004. Segmentation and Recognition of Vocalized Outlines in Pitman Shorthand In: International Conference on Pattern Recognition.
  • SWE MYO HTWE, ., HIGGINS, C.A., LEEDHAM, G. and WHITSEY, M., 2004. Evaluation of Feature Sets in the Post Processing of Handwritten Pitmans Shorthand In: 9th International Workshop on Frontiers in Handwriting Recognition.
  • YONG, C. and HIGGINS, C.A., 2004. Self-Assessing with Adaptive Exercises In: 8th International Computer Aided Assessment Conference.
  • SWE MYO HTWE, ., HIGGINS, C.A., LEEDHAM, G. and WHITSEY, M., 2004. Post Processing of Handwritten Pitmans Shorthand Using Unigram and Heuristic Approaches In: IAPR Workshop on Document Analysis Systems.
  • SWE MYO HTWE, ., HIGGINS, C.A., LEEDHAM, G. and YANG, M., 2004. Knowledge Based Transcription of Handwritten Pitmans Shorthand Using Word Frequency and Context In: 7th International Conference on Development and Application Systems.
  • HIGGINS, C., HEGAZY, T., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2003. The CourseMarker CBA system: improvements over Ceilidh Education and Information Technologies. 8(3), 287-304
  • PEAD, D.A., HARRISON, C. and HIGGINS, C.A., 2003. Interactive Classroom Explorer
  • AL-MA'ADEED, S., HIGGINS, C.A. and ELLIMAN, D.G., 2003. Off Line Recognition of Handwritten Arabic Words Using Multiple Hidden Markov Models In: Proceedings of AI-2003 the 23rd SGAI International Conference on Innovative Techniques and Applications.
  • YONG, C.H. and HIGGINS, C.A., 2003. Automatically Creating Personalised Exercises Based on Student Profiles In: ITiCSE 2003.
  • HEGAZY, T., HIGGINS, C.A. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2003. A Framework for Supporting the Computer Based Assessment Community and for the Interoperability and In: m-ICTE2003. Second International Conference on Multimedia and Information and Communication Technol.
  • HIGGINS, C.A., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2003. CourseMarker and DATsys, Next Generation Automated Assessment Systems In: The Use of CAA i ICS Education Conference.
  • AL-MA'ADEED, S., HIGGINS, C.A. and ELLIMAN, D.G., 2002. Recognition of Off-Line Handwritten Arabic Words Using a Hidden Marcov Model Approach In: International Conference on Pattern Recognition, ICPR2002.
  • HIGGINS, C.A., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2002. The Marking System for CourseMaster In: Proceedings of the 7th Annual SIGCSE Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Edu.
  • AL-MA'ADEED, S., HIGGINS, C.A. and ELLIMAN, D.G., 2002. Arabic Hand-written Word Recognition In: ACIT 2002.
  • AL-MA'ADEED, S., ELLIMAN, D.G. and HIGGINS, C.A., 2002. A Data Base for Arabic Handwritten Text Recognition Research In: Eighth International Workshop on Frontiers in Handwriting Recognition, IWFHR 2002. 485-489
  • HIGGINS, C.A., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2002. Diagram-Based CBA using DATSys and CourseMaster In: ICCE2002.
  • HIGGINS, C.A., 2002. CourseMaster: Marking Programs and Diagrams In: Dealing with Plagiarism in ICS Education, Invited Paper.
  • AL-MA'ADEED, S., HIGGINS, C.A. and ELLIMAN, D.G., 2001. A New Preprocessing System for the Recognition of Off-Line Handwritten Arabic Words In: First International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology.
  • AL-MA'ADEED, S., ELLIMAN, D.G. and HIGGINS, C.A., 2001. Computer Vision Application to Automatically Recognise Handwritten Arabic Characters In: ENAIS'2001, International ICSC Congress on Information Science Innovations.
  • HIGGINS, C.A., SUHONEN, J. and SUTINEN, E., 2001. Model of a Semi-Automatic Assessment Tool in a Web-Based Learning Environment In: International Conference on Computers in Education.
  • FOXLEY, E., HIGGINS, C.A., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2001. The CourseMaster Automated Assessment System - A Next Generation Ceilidh In: Workshop on Computer Assisted Assessment to Support the ICS Disciplines.
  • FOXLEY, E., HIGGINS, C.A., HEGAZY, T., SYMEONIDIS, P. and TSINTSIFAS, A., 2001. The CourseMaster CBA System - Improvements Over Ceilidh In: Fifth International Computer Assisted Assessment Conference.
  • C.A. HIGGINS, F.Z. MANSOURI, 2000. PRAM: A Courseware System for the Automatic Assessment of AI Programs. In: Innovative Teaching and Learning : Knowledge-Based Paradigms 36. Springer-Verlag.
  • HIGGINS, C.A., ELLIMAN, D.G., HUTTON, G. and CRIPPS, M., 1997. The Designer's Apprentice, An Electronic Drawing Board Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing.
  • MANSOURI, F. Z. and HIGGINS, C. A., 1997. Prolog: An annotated bibliography ACM SIGPLAN NOTICES. VOL 32(NUMBER 9), 47-53

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