1. Program Visualization Using Virtual Worlds CCLI NSF-0339734

2. Research team Stephen Cooper, Saint Joseph’s University Wanda Dann, Ithaca College Barbara Moskal, Colorado School of Mines Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon University

3. The Project Using program visualization in a powerful, high-level animation programming environment as a methodology for introducing object-oriented programming to beginning programmers.

4. Project goals Decrease attrition and improve performance among at-risk computing majors Improve attitudes towards computing Attract students to minor/major in computing and technology related majors.

5. Outcomes from pilot study Drastic improvement in retention of at-risk computing majors Retention to CS2: 47% to 88% Improved performance in CS1 GPA in CS1: 1.94 to 3.03

6. Alice

7. Alice features Uses 3D graphics to engage students Has a “smart” drag-and-drop editor that prevents syntax errors Appeals to wide audience Storytelling (young women, minority students) Interactive computer games (young men)

8. Alice features Is a program visualization tool The program state is visible to the student State changes are animated Has a java syntax mode to ease the transition to C++/Java Makes visible and tangible the notion of an object

9. Alice use Current use by more than 60 colleges (2-year and 4-year) Over 90 faculty representing nearly 60 colleges attended one of our summer 2005 workshops Current use by approximately 50 high schools

10. How Alice is being used In pre-CS1 course for majors and students considering a CS major As conceptual introduction in CS1 Introduction to programming course non-majors attract students to become CS majors Computer literacy problem-solving component Pre-AP in high schools

11. Animation tool and materials Alice, freely available at: http://www.alice.org Textbook available from Prentice Hall: http://vig.prenhall.com:8081/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0131424203,00.html Curricular materials available at: http://www.aliceprogramming.net