Abstract:

Computational thinking and problem-solving are part of twenty-first century skills. The abstractness and problem-solving nature of programming is a challenge for novice learners. We experimented to investigate the viability of an online free visualising tool called Python Tutor for Object-Oriented C++ programming. The objective was to visualise the abstract concepts and to improve problem-solving skills. In this study, we engage two groups of undergraduate students. To investigate the role of the visualisation tool in learning, for one week, Group 1 was an experimental group and Group 2 was a control group and the same topics were thought to both groups. At the end of the week, quiz 1 was given to both groups and scores were recorded. Next week Group 1 become the control group and Group 2 become the experimental group. Again same topics were thought to both groups. At the end of the second week, quiz 2 was given to both groups and scores were recorded. Findings indicate that the visualisation tool helped the students in understanding and solving ill-defined problems, key skills in learning Programming.

Keywords:

Programming, Visualisation, Computational thinking, problem-solving skills.