A Tangible Interface for Learning Recursion and Functional Programming

Explaining multi-threaded task scheduling using tangible user interfaces in higher educational contexts

“…Whilst results illustrate that this technique augmented the interest levels and consequently the achieved marks by students [24], the technique does not focus on the tangible aspect of teaching and uses Sifteo cubes mainly as a code execution platform rather than the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) on a conventional computer. Another study aimed to introduce aspects of programming recursion in the Erlang functional language by linking a TUI system in conjunction with Augmented Reality (AR) [34]. Whilst succeeding to visualise programming stacks in singletailed-recursive structural functions, the technological interactions of the system are not widely applicable [34] and the system makes use of tangible blocks merely as optical markers for controlling pure AR virtualisation.…”

“…Another study aimed to introduce aspects of programming recursion in the Erlang functional language by linking a TUI system in conjunction with Augmented Reality (AR) [34]. Whilst succeeding to visualise programming stacks in singletailed-recursive structural functions, the technological interactions of the system are not widely applicable [34] and the system makes use of tangible blocks merely as optical markers for controlling pure AR virtualisation.…”