The potential of virtual reality for computer science education -engaging students through immersive visualizations

Johanna Pirker*, Johannes Kopf, Alexander Kainz, Andreas Dengel, Benjamin Buchbauer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

Popular problems of Computer Science Education that are often solved using algorithms include various number sorting tasks. Sorting algorithms have the potential to emphasize powerful programming paradigms and also to start discussions about algorithm complexity. Research has shown that hands-on activities using analogies and fun activities instead of programming tasks can foster learning in this area in many different ways. In times when much teaching and learning takes place online, the implementing of such unplugged activities can become difficult. Visualizations and animations can help to achieve learning outcomes by making these relatively abstract phenomena more concrete. In particular, virtual reality environments can provide new forms for interacting with visualizations and might well foster motivational, emotional, and perceptual factors that have an influence on learning processes. This paper investigates the differences between these subjective variables in a web application and a VR application for learning sorting algorithms. The results produced initial indicators that learners experience higher presence, absorption, flow, psychological immersion and positive emotions in a virtual reality setting compared to a desktop setting.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication 2021 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, Abstracts and Workshops (VRW)
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pages297-302
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9780738113678
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021
Event28th IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces: IEEE VR 2021 - online, Virtual, Lisboa, Portugal
Duration: 27 Mar 20213 Apr 2021
http://ieeevr.org/2021/

Conference

Conference28th IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces
Abbreviated titleIEEE VR'21
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityVirtual, Lisboa
Period27/03/213/04/21
Internet address

Keywords

  • Human-centered computing
  • Visualization
  • Visualization techniques

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Media Technology
  • Modelling and Simulation

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