Asterisk as a Tool to Aid in Learning to Program
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This work proposes the use of the software Asterisk VoIP and other hardware to help the learning to program. This is a novel approach were the students can interact with hardware through software. A set of interesting final year projects done using Asterisk is described.
The method used seems to be adequate, due to the low number of students.
According to the results, students with previous programming knowledge improved their programming skills and motivation after complete their final projects.
From my point of view, the manuscript is not clear at the beginning what programming language is going to be learned (Python, Java, C, ...), apart from the use of Asterisk; reading the paper (e.g. Table 2), one realize that it is the Asterisk language itself (scripts), and Python in some of the projects. A small paragraph could be included in the introduction to be clearer on this.
I agree with the difficulties of the students towards the programming exposed in the introduction. I do not know Asterisk programming, but I have the idea that it is based in scripts. So, I am not sure about what aspects of structured or object-oriented programming are worked by the students, perhaps events capturing, ... As this is a preliminary study, perhaps for future work, some project could include the develop of some application in high level programming language (Java, Python) that interact with an Asterisk Server.
Acronyms are well defined at their first usage. Nevertheless, PBX is only defined in the abstract (line 6) and it could be also defined in the main body text (53); HTTPS is not defined (204), although HTTP is defined.
- About Figures, 2,3,5,6, although they seem to be clear, as a suggestion, they could show a number indicating the steps order. Also, perhaps a small legend describing that the blue "Microphone" is a "Voice message", the green "Sheet" is a "Text message", the gray "World" is ... and so on. In addition, the logo "Asterisk" could be inside a PC, and the Google logo inside a cloud (only another suggestion).
- In Fig.4, the content of the blue arrows is the number typed, and the content of the green arrows is the user, action and time?.
- The caption of Fig.5 has a typing mistake "to develop of a" -> "to develop a" ?
Some minor mistakes:
- line 176: I think that there is something wrong in "the k a command"; perhaps "a command".
- line 306: perhaps it is "five years" instead "four years"?
The bibliography seems to be complete and updated.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Hypotheses are clearly stated. Good use of pretest as baseline measure. Findings are appropriately grounded in supporting evidence. I would have liked to see a bit richer discussion of conclusions and directions of future recommended research. Overall very well done and a significant contribution to the literature. Worthy of publication.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors made an adequate revision of the article, clarifying the points that raised doubts.
The reading of the article would be facilitated if the figures and tables appeared after being cited in the text.
