Learning and Retention in Data Structures: A Comparison of Visualization, Text, and Combined Methods

Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of animated visualizations on students learning data structures, but few have attempted to evaluate the retention of information gained from visualizations. Our work focuses on comparing different media used for teaching data structures, particularly as they affect the learning process over time. Results from our empirical studies suggest that a combination of text and visualization helps students retain knowledge better than either approach alone.