Using visualization to teach novices recursion

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.

[1]  Randall Wayne Bower.  An investigation of a manipulative simulation in the learning of recursive programming , 1998 .

[2]  Brian Swander,et al.  An object-oriented approach to algorithm visualization—easy, extensible, and dynamic , 1994, SIGCSE '94.

[3]  Robert DeLine,et al.  Alice: Rapid prototyping system for virtual reality , 1995 .

[4]  Richard E. Pattis,et al.  Karel ++ A Gentle Introduction to the Art of Object-Oriented Programming , 1996 .

[5]  Doug Baldwin,et al.  Computer science needs an insight-based curriculum , 1994, SIGCSE '94.

[6]  David Levine,et al.  The art and science of computer graphics: a very depth-first approach to the non-majors course , 1994, SIGCSE '94.

[7]  Pattis.  Karel the Robot , 2000 .

[8]  Seymour Papert,et al.  Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas , 1981 .

[9]  Judith Gal-Ezer,et al.  What (else) should CS educators know? , 1998, CACM.

[10]  John Domingue,et al.  Software visualization : programming as a multimedia experience , 1998 .

[11]  Eric S. Roberts,et al.  Thinking recursively , 1986 .

[12]  Randy Pausch,et al.  Alice: a 3-D tool for introductory programming concepts , 2000 .

[13]  Cheng-Chih Wu,et al.  Conceptual models and cognitive learning styles in teaching recursion , 1998, SIGCSE '98.

[14]  Dianne Hagan,et al.  Does it help to have some programming experience before beginning a computing degree program? , 2000, ITiCSE '00.

[15]  Randy F. Pausch,et al.  Making the connection: programming with animated small world , 2000, ITiCSE '00.

[16]  J. R. Davy,et al.  Student well-being in a computing department , 2000, ITiCSE '00.