Abstract
This study examined how program visualization tools affect Advanced Placement Computer Science students' understanding of abstract programming concepts. A literature review was conducted to determine if program visualization is effective and which students benefit from it the most. The findings were used to design a causal comparative study in which students would experience instruction with and without program visualization. The study took place in an AP Computer Science course during the first challenging unit about an abstract concept: loops. Participants (n = 24) were selected using convenience sampling and were assessed before, during, and after the study took place. While it was difficult to reach to any significant conclusions about program visualization's effect on student understanding as a whole, there were several conclusions that could be made about different groups of students. The results suggested that math confidence is a factor in the effectiveness of program visualization and there appeared to be a similar trend with ethnicity. There was also significant evidence that program visualization is most effective for students who are not considered high or low achieving. These results provide insight into how computer science teachers can create lessons using program visualization that are meaningful for all students and for specific groups in particular.
Advisor
Carrie Chapman
Committee Member
Kathleen Foord
Committee Member
Qijie Cai
Date of Degree
2016
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
College
Education
Recommended Citation
Peterson, M. J. (2016). Effects of Computer Program Visualization Tools on Student Populations [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/660/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Included in
Computer Engineering Commons, Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons, Engineering Education Commons