Abstract:

Doodling, also referred to as "sketching" or "drafting," has been recognized as an effective tool for learning in various scientific fields such as mathematics, literature, and history. It has been suggested that doodling is a critical process of learning that contributes to problem-solving skills development. Additionally, the use of doodling is known to enhance students' ability to analyze and understand tasks, particularly for novices.

Computational thinking and IT are no exception to the benefits of doodling, as previous research has shown that doodling plays a crucial role in problem-solving and understanding tasks. However, there is a need for more research on how doodling affects computational thinking, specifically in the context of algorithm visualizations, and how prior programming experience may influence understanding.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of doodling on computational thinking with respect to three algorithm visualizations. The study aims to explore how participants' prior programming experience influences their comprehension of the algorithms. This study seeks to contribute to the current understanding of the role of doodling in enhancing computational thinking and how it can be used to improve novice learners' understanding of algorithm visualizations.

Keywords:

Doodling, problem-solving, algorithm, sketching, tracing, visualization.