Program Visualization Using Virtual Worlds

CCLI

NSF-0339734

Research team

Stephen Cooper, Saint Joseph’s University

Wanda Dann, Ithaca CollegeBarbara Moskal, Colorado School of

MinesRandy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon

University

The Project

Using program visualization in a powerful, high-level animation programming environment as a methodology for introducing object-oriented programming to beginning programmers.

Project goals

Decrease attrition and improve performance among at-risk computing majors

Improve attitudes towards computing

Attract students to minor/major in computing and technology related majors.

Outcomes from pilot study

Drastic improvement in retention of at-risk computing majors

Retention to CS2: 47% to 88%

Improved performance in CS1GPA in CS1: 1.94 to 3.03

Alice

Alice featuresUses 3D graphics to engage students

Has a “smart” drag-and-drop editor that prevents syntax errors

Appeals to wide audience Storytelling

(young women, minority students)

Interactive computer games (young men)

Alice features

Is a program visualization toolThe program state is visible to the student

State changes are animated

Has a java syntax mode to ease the transition to C++/Java

Makes visible and tangible the notion of an object

Alice use

Current use by more than 60 colleges (2-year and 4-year)

Over 90 faculty representing nearly 60 colleges attended one of our summer 2005 workshops

Current use by approximately 50 high schools

How Alice is being used

In pre-CS1 course for majors and students considering a CS major

As conceptual introduction in CS1Introduction to programming course

non-majors attract students to become CS majors

Computer literacy problem-solving component

Pre-AP in high schools

Animation tool and materials

Alice, freely available at: http://www.alice.org

Textbook available from Prentice Hall:

http://vig.prenhall.com:8081/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0131424203,00.html

Curricular materials available at: http://www.aliceprogramming.net