Visual Simulation
Graphical visualizations of recursion

Context

Two visualizations for two types of recursive questions were developed. For the maze-type questions, the visualization is the maze levels itself where the player must traverse the maze and light up all blocks with a recursive solution in order to reach the next level.
For the mathematical-type questions, the visualization takes in the recursive solution and shows the player mixing the mathematical equation together as coded in the recursive solution. Once the solution is ready, it is given to a cannon which shoots the distance equivalent to the answer of the chemical solution. These visualizations aim to add a gamified context to the learning experience.

PROJECT GOALS

Software engineer a game to aid in the teaching of recursion through visualizations.

Two main objectives:

  • Visualization Objective: Create visualizations for recursion that are very graphical and depict both flows of recursion.
  • Usability Objective: Aiding the teaching of recursion to first-year students as an introductory and supplementary learning material.

These visualizations are an alternative form of output and help view the process of recursion in a different light by visually showing the abstractions.

partners

Levels

7 Unique Maze Level Questions:

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Level1

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Level2

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Level3

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Level4

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Level5

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Level6

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Level7

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RESULTS

20 first-year Computer Science students user tested and evaluated our game.

80% of the students found the visualizations aesthetically pleasing, interesting and appealing. The rest of the students (20%) wanted more context to be able to follow and understand the animations.

75% of the students agreed that the visualizations were done well. The rest of the students (25%) had comments on specific parts of the visualizations that could be done better. These comments were all related to improving the game in terms of animations, background and labels.

The two visualizations that were developed with maze and mathematical-type questions achieved both the visibility and usability objectives.

Resources

Visual Simulation: Literature Review

Literature Review

Games to Teach Recursion

Visual Simulation: Final Paper

Final Paper

Visualizations through a Game to Teach Recursion

Visual Simulation: UML Diagrams

UML Diagrams

Design Documentation