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Dancing hamsters and marble statues: characterizing student visualizations of algorithms

Published: 11 June 2003 Publication History

Abstract

Algorithm visualization research for computer science education has primarily focused on expert-created visualizations. However, constructionist and situated theories of learning suggest that students should develop and share their own diverse understandings of a concept for deep learning. This paper presents a novel approach to algorithm learning by visualization construction, sharing, and evaluation. Three empirical studies in which students engaged in these activities are discussed. The resulting learning benefits are quantified, and student visualizations are characterized in multiple ways. Then another study that investigated how specific characteristics of such visualizations influence learning is described. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of having students create algorithm visualizations, identifies characteristics of student-created algorithm visualizations and illuminates the learning benefits derived from these characteristics.

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  • (2017)The 'Art' of ProgrammingProceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research10.1145/3105726.3106170(39-46)Online publication date: 14-Aug-2017
  • (2016)Project eMadrid: Learning methodologies, gamification and quality2016 International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE)10.1109/SIIE.2016.7751874(1-5)Online publication date: Sep-2016
  • (2016)A study on students' preferences in graphical design of algorithm visualizations2016 International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE)10.1109/SIIE.2016.7751833(1-6)Online publication date: Sep-2016
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cover image ACM Conferences
SoftVis '03: Proceedings of the 2003 ACM symposium on Software visualization
June 2003
211 pages
ISBN:1581136420
DOI:10.1145/774833
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 11 June 2003

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Author Tags

  1. algorithms
  2. empirical studies
  3. learning
  4. multimedia
  5. representation
  6. visualization

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SoftVis '03 Paper Acceptance Rate 20 of 65 submissions, 31%;
Overall Acceptance Rate 20 of 65 submissions, 31%

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Cited By

View all
  • (2017)The 'Art' of ProgrammingProceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research10.1145/3105726.3106170(39-46)Online publication date: 14-Aug-2017
  • (2016)Project eMadrid: Learning methodologies, gamification and quality2016 International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE)10.1109/SIIE.2016.7751874(1-5)Online publication date: Sep-2016
  • (2016)A study on students' preferences in graphical design of algorithm visualizations2016 International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE)10.1109/SIIE.2016.7751833(1-6)Online publication date: Sep-2016
  • (2013)Toward the effective use of educational program animationsComputers & Education10.5555/2753875.275395667:C(178-192)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2013
  • (2012)Comparing the effectiveness of different educational uses of program animationsProceedings of the 17th ACM annual conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education10.1145/2325296.2325340(174-179)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2012
  • (2012)A Long-Term Evaluation of Educational Animations of Functional ProgramsProceedings of the 2012 IEEE 12th International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies10.1109/ICALT.2012.50(26-30)Online publication date: 4-Jul-2012
  • (2012)Effects of Jigsaw Cooperative Learning and Animation Techniques on Students’ Understanding of Chemical Bonding and Their Conceptions of the Particulate Nature of MatterJournal of Science Education and Technology10.1007/s10956-012-9385-922:2(186-203)Online publication date: 25-May-2012
  • (2011)Toward replicating handmade algorithm visualization behaviors in a digital environmentProceedings of the 16th annual joint conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education10.1145/1999747.1999804(198-202)Online publication date: 27-Jun-2011
  • (2010)Technologically and artistically enhanced multi-sensory computer-programming educationTeaching and Teacher Education10.1016/j.tate.2009.04.01226:2(244-251)Online publication date: Feb-2010
  • (2009)An Experiment on the Short-Term Effects of Engagement and Representation in Program AnimationJournal of Educational Computing Research10.2190/EC.39.4.e39:4(395-430)Online publication date: 27-Apr-2009
  • Show More Cited By

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