A Visual Programming Environment for Learning Distributed Programming

Broll, Brian; Lédeczi, Ákos; Völgyesi, Péter; Sallai, Janos; Maróti, Miklós; Carrillo, Alexia; Weeden-Wright, Stephanie L.; Vanags, Chris; Swartz, Joshua D.; Lu, Melvin

doi:10.1145/3017680.3017741

Cited by 62 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The C2STEM environment uses NetsBlox (Broll et al, 2017), an extension of Snap!, 1 with custom domain-specific blocks (e.g., blocks for setting and updating position, velocity, acceleration, and heading) that help learners focus on physics concepts. Groups worked on our curriculum once a week for two months.…”

Section: C2stem Environment and Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Student Regulation of Collaborative, Computational, Problem-Solving Processes in Open-Ended Learning Environments

Emara

Hutchins

Grover

et al. 2021

JLA

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The integration of computational modelling in science classrooms provides a unique opportunity to promote key 21st century skills including computational thinking (CT) and collaboration. The open-ended, problem-solving nature of the task requires groups to grapple with the combination of two domains (science and computing) as they collaboratively construct computational models. While this approach has produced significant learning gains for students in both science and CT in K–12 settings, the collaborative learning processes students use, including learner regulation, are not well understood. In this paper, we present a systematic analysis framework that combines natural language processing (NLP) of collaborative dialogue, log file analyses of students’ model-building actions, and final model scores. This analysis is used to better understand students’ regulation of collaborative problem solving (CPS) processes over a series of computational modelling tasks of varying complexity. The results suggest that the computational modelling challenges afford opportunities for students to a) explore resource-intensive processes, such as trial and error, to more systematic processes, such as debugging model errors by leveraging data tools, and b) learn from each other using socially shared regulation (SSR) and productive collaboration. The use of such SSR processes correlated positively with their model-building scores. Our paper aims to advance our understanding of collaborative, computational modelling in K–12 science to better inform classroom applications.

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Section: C2stem Environment and Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Student Regulation of Collaborative, Computational, Problem-Solving Processes in Open-Ended Learning Environments

Emara

Hutchins

Grover

et al. 2021

JLA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This helps users to gain an in-depth sound knowledge of the programming language [15]. NetBlox is another visualization tool that has been developed to enhance understanding of distributed programming [16]. In this tool, messages that are communicated among systems are represented as blocks with message payloads.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

PointerViz - Towards Visualizing Pointers for Novice Programmers

Venigalla¹,

Lakkundi²,

Chimalakonda³

2020

Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences

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Pointers are considered as one of the key concepts in learning programming and are extensively used for implementing several data structures. They lay the foundation for handling dynamic aspects of a program, increase execution speed and handle data types with more efficiency. This makes it critical for budding programmers to be well versed with using pointers. However, most of the novice programmers find it difficult and tricky to understand concepts such as address allocations, pointers referring pointers and data structures containing pointers. Hence, drawing the physical structure and flow of pointers is considered to be a common learning practice to gain better clarity and avoid confusion when learning pointers. But, it is time consuming and tedious to draw the flow of pointers on paper while programming. To help programmers understand these variations in pointers, we propose PointerViz as a Google Chrome extension that displays the pictorial representation of selected code with pointers. We conducted a preliminary survey with 40 students from various universities and 83% of the users reported positive experience with the plugin.

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“…Streamlined coding practices (same language, Snap! and NetsBlox [22,23], and complementary curriculum pieces) were incorporated into Engineering Design.…”

Section: Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The natural direction to take students once they have mastered the basics of programming a serial application is to look at scalability and synchronization issues by having them create a distributed application using NetsBlox (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN) [23][24].…”

Section: Introduction To Computer Science / Ap Computer Science Princmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creating a Relevant, Application-Based Curriculum for High Performance Computing in High School

Betro¹,

Loveless²

2020

JOCSE

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While strides have been made to improve science and math readiness at a college-preparatory level, some key fundamentals have been left unaddressed that can cause students to turn away from the STEM disciplines before they find their niche [10], [11], [12], [13]. Introducing collegiate level research and project-based, group-centered learning at a high school level has a multi-faceted effect; in addition to elevated learning outcomes in science and math, students exhibit improved critical thinking and communication skills, leading to improved preparedness for subsequent academic endeavors [1]. The work presented here outlines the development of a STEM ecosystem where both the science department and math department have implemented an interdisciplinary approach to introduce a spectrum of laboratory and computing research skills. This takes the form of both "in situ," micro-curricular elements and stand-alone research and computer science classes which integrate the language-independent concepts of abstraction and object-oriented programming, distributed and high-performance computing, and high and low-level language control applications. This pipeline has been an effective tool that has allowed several driven and interested students to participated in collegiate-level and joint-collegiate projects involving virtual reality, robotics and systems controls, and modeling. The willingness of the departments to cross-pollinate, hire faculty wellversed in research, and support students and faculty with the proper resources are critical factors in readying the next generation of computing leaders.

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A Visual Programming Environment for Learning Distributed Programming

Cited by 62 publications

References 8 publications

Examining Student Regulation of Collaborative, Computational, Problem-Solving Processes in Open-Ended Learning Environments

Examining Student Regulation of Collaborative, Computational, Problem-Solving Processes in Open-Ended Learning Environments

PointerViz - Towards Visualizing Pointers for Novice Programmers

Creating a Relevant, Application-Based Curriculum for High Performance Computing in High School

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