Freidkes, B. (2025, March), Programming Projects for First-Time Coders: Using Visualization to Learn Logic  Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Southeast Conference , Mississippi State University, Mississippi. 10.18260/1-2--54188

\bibitem{asee_peer_54188}
  Freidkes, B. (2025, March), \emph{Programming Projects for First-Time Coders: Using Visualization to Learn Logic}
  Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Southeast Conference , Mississippi State University, Mississippi.
  10.18260/1-2--54188

Brett Freidkes.  "Programming Projects for First-Time Coders: Using Visualization to Learn Logic".  2025 ASEE Southeast Conference , Mississippi State University, Mississippi, 2025, March.  ASEE Conferences, 2025.  https://peer.asee.org/54188 Internet.  02 Sep, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_54188}
  Brett Freidkes.
  "Programming Projects for First-Time Coders: Using Visualization to Learn Logic".
  \emph{2025 ASEE Southeast Conference , Mississippi State University, Mississippi, 2025, March}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2025.
  https://peer.asee.org/54188 Internet.  02 Sep, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_54188
author = "Brett Freidkes"
title = "Programming Projects for First-Time Coders: Using Visualization to Learn Logic"
booktitle = "2025 ASEE Southeast Conference "
year = "2025"
month = "March"
address = "Mississippi State University, Mississippi"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/54188}
number = {10.18260/1-2--54188}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - First-time coders must not only overcome the difficulties in learning a programming language’s syntax, but they must also develop the crucial sense of logic required to solve problems via code. Instructors provide the foundation during lectures on conditional statements, loops, and functions, each of which is required in most elementary programming courses. Beyond exams and homework, projects are frequently assigned to reinforce these logical ideas. Common projects focus on user inputs and decision-making; for example, creating an interactive game of blackjack where the player interacts via text with the software (e.g., “would you like to hit or stand?”). It may be difficult for students to visualize what is happening with their codes or troubleshoot when simply looking at textual outputs. Additionally, the reward associated with a successful code is minimal without any visual result confirming that everything works as planned. 

This paper covers three projects given to mechanical engineering students in a MATLAB programming course. These projects incorporate standard programming logic, with the primary objective being the creation of a visual plot to showcase successful code execution. Programs collect information from a user, check that the provided values are feasible, and utilize the information to create a single image or animation that mirrors a playable game. Based on student feedback, these types of projects allow the students to troubleshoot accordingly, take pride in their first significant successful code, and have fun playing with their friends or family once the project is complete. Most importantly, the challenge of the project prepares students for future classes within their curriculum.

AU  - Brett Freidkes
CY  - Mississippi State University, Mississippi
DA  - 2025/03/09
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Programming Projects for First-Time Coders: Using Visualization to Learn Logic
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/54188
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--54188
ER  -