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Work-in-Progress: Programming Concept Visualization Using Flash Animations

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Conference

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Publication Date

June 10, 2012

Start Date

June 10, 2012

End Date

June 13, 2012

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Computers in Education Division Poster Session

Tagged Division

Computers in Education

Page Count

10

Page Numbers

25.1494.1 - 25.1494.10

DOI

10.18260/1-2--22251

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/22251

Download Count

673

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Paper Authors

biography

Lin Li Prairie View A&M University

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Lin Li is an Assistant Professor of the Computer Science Department at Prairie View A&M University. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 2004. Before that, he received his B.S. and M.E. from Beijing Institute of Technology and Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Currently, his research interests are in computer educational technology, green home, and network communications.

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biography

Jaime Israel Juarez Prairie View A&M University

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Jaime I. Juarez is a Software Engineer who graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a bachelor's and a master's degree in computer science. His expertise is in web design and interactive computer education technologies. He is currently working on an intelligent testing/tutoring system development. Juarez is interested in teaching computer ecience at the collegiate level.

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Yonggao Yang Prairie View A&M University

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Yonggao Yang is a tenured Associate Professor and the Interim Department Head in the Department of Computer Science at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) in Texas. He joined the CS Department at PVAMU as an Assistant Professor in Aug. 2002 immediately upon receiving a Ph.D. degree in information technology and computer science from George Mason University (Fairfax, Va.). Yang's research interests include computer graphics, scientific visualization, distributed virtual reality learning/training environment, and computer networks. Yang can be reached through email at yoyang@pvamu.edu.

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Abstract

Visualizing Programming Concepts using Flash AnimationsProgramming courses are fundamental and important for computer science education. However,critical programming concepts like recursion and pointers are often difficult to grasp forbeginning students. To help students understand the essence of programming, we developed anumber of learning modules associated with the vital concepts. By using flash animations, wvisualized the program logic and memory variation to make the abstract concepts easier tocomprehend. In pilot testing, this approach proved to be effective in stimulating students’interests and enhancing their learning performance. A management system was alsoimplemented to organize the learning modules through which instructors can edit questions andassign training activities. Students can take trainings and interact with the animations to gainbetter understanding.These courseware and learning materials not only improved instructors’ teaching efficiency, butalso practiced students’ self-study ability. This paper presents the design and implementation ofthe animations and the management system. A summary of the programming topics and coursesimpacted are also discussed.

Li, L., & Juarez, J. I., & Yang, Y. (2012, June), Work-in-Progress: Programming Concept Visualization Using Flash Animations Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--22251

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