Authors:
Peter Bellström
and
Claes Thorén
Affiliation:
Karlstad University, Sweden
Keyword(s):
Visualization, Programming, e-Learning, Bubble Sort Algorithm.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Applications
;
Computer-Supported Education
;
e-Business
;
Education/Learning
;
e-Learning
;
e-Learning and e-Teaching
;
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Human-Computer Interaction
;
Knowledge Management and Information Sharing
;
Knowledge-Based Systems
;
Software Agents and Internet Computing
Abstract:
In this paper we address the importance of visualizing in programming education. In doing so, we describe three contributions to the research field. First we describe an initial study on visualizing the Bubble Sort algorithm. The Bubble Sort algorithm has been chosen since it contains several parts that in the past have been troublesome for several students taking introductory programming courses. Secondly, we describe a design for how visualization can be inserted into programming education. In that design we again use the Bubble Sort algorithm as an illustrating example. Thirdly, we present a classification of four visual programming environments: Alice, BlueJ, Greenfoot and Scratch. In the classification we have positioned each visual programming environment in a matrix comprised of the granularity dimension and the visualization dimension. All three presented contributions to the research field of visualization should contribute to an understanding of abstract programming concept
s starting with problem or application instead of syntax. Students lacking scientific mathematics and students taking an introductory programming course based on e-Learning should benefit the most of the presented contributions.
(More)