The Role of Visualization in Computer Science Education (original) (raw)
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A Proposed Framework For Visualization To Teach Computer Science
2007
Computer programming is considered a very difficult course by many computer science students. The reasons for the difficulties include cognitive load involved in programming, different learning styles of students, instructional methodology and the choice of the programming languages. To reduce the difficulties the following have been tried: pair programming, program visualization, different learning styles etc. However, these efforts have produced limited success. This paper reviews the problem and proposes a framework to help students overcome the difficulties involved.
Exploring the role of visualization and engagement in computer science education
2002
Abstract Visualization technology can be used to graphically illustrate various concepts in computer science. We argue that such technology, no matter how well it is designed, is of little educational value unless it engages learners in an active learning activity. Drawing on a review of experimental studies of visualization effectiveness, we motivate this position against the backdrop of current attitudes and best practices with respect to visualization use.
ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
Visualization technology can be used to graphically illustrate various concepts in computer science. We argue that such technology, no matter how well it is designed, is of little educational value unless it engages learners in an active learning activity. Drawing on a review of experimental studies of visualization effectiveness, we motivate this position against the backdrop of current attitudes and best practices with respect to visualization use. We suggest a new taxonomy of learner engagement with visualization technology. Grounded in Bloom's well-recognized taxonomy of understanding, we suggest metrics for assessing the learning outcomes to which such engagement may lead. Based on these taxonomies of engagement and effectiveness metrics, we present a framework for experimental studies of visualization effectiveness. Interested computer science educators are invited to collaborate with us by carrying out studies within this framework.
A study of visualization in introductory programming
… of the Annual Meeting of the …, 2008
The teaching of fundamental programming skills is a field that extensively uses different kinds of tools to enhance learning experience. These tools come in several sizes, offering wide range of different equipment or approaches to the teaching of introductory programming curricula. At the same time, computer sciences, and programming courses in particular, suffer from high drop-out rates and falling student grades. Students lose interest on programming because of several complex models and structures have to be learned before anything visually impressive can be created. This problem is intensified by the new multimedia environments like games and applets, whereas command line programs and data algorithms have lost impact and are not considered interesting. So can visualization tools be used to increase the student motivation and create motivational tasks to promote interest towards programming?
On the Effectiveness of Visualizations in a Theory of Computing Course
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2007
We report on two tests we performed in Hong Kong and Shanghai to verify the hypothesis that one can learn better when being given access to visualizations beyond the standard verbal explanations in a classroom. The outcome of the first test at HKUST was inconclusive, while the second test at Fudan University showed a clear advantage for those students who had access to visualizations. ⋆
Adaptive, Engaging, and Explanatory Visualization in a C Programming Course
This paper discusses three ways to improve the educational value of program visualization: engaging visualization, explanatory visualization, and adaptive visualization. We present some tools that we have developed to explore adaptive, engaging, and explanatory visualization in the classroom: a system for exploring the calculation of C expressions (WADEIn) and a set of small learning environments for exploring some of the "muddiest points" of C. We also provide some results of our most recent study of the WADEIn system in the classroom and summarize the directions for future work.