Using visualization to teach novices recursion

Abstract

This paper describes an approach for introducing recursion, as part of a course for novice programmers. The course is designed to make use of a 3-D animation world-builder as a visualization tool that allows students to see their own programs in action. One of the pedagogical goals of the course is to enable the student to gain an intuitive sense of and mathematical insight into the recursive process. The software, examples of animation using recursion, and some experiences in using this approach are discussed. What is Alice.'?Alice98 (www.alice.org) is a 3-D interactive graphics programming environment for Windows built by the Stage 3 Research Group at Carnegie Mellon University under the direction of Randy Pausch [15]. Alice offers a full scripting and prototyping environment for 3-D object behavior (e.g., animals

Improving teaching and learning of computer programming through the use of the Second Life virtual world

“…It is also object based by writing simple scripts Improving teaching and learning through Second Life 625 in which its users can control 3D object appearance and behaviour. The benefit of using it is that it allows students to be involved and at the same time have the ability to develop an intuitive understanding of basic concepts in a visual feedback environment (Dann, Cooper & Pausch, 2001). Thus, students using ALICE are immediately able to see how their animated programs run because the highly visual feedback allows them to relate the program 'piece' to the animation action, and this leads to an understanding of the actual functioning of different programming language constructs (Dann, Cooper & Pausch, 2001).…”