{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/124436"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/124436","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Challenges of interpreting Python Tutor visualizations","abstract":"Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2024-09-16 without embargo terms","abstract_html":"Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2024-09-16 without embargo terms","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Balasubramanian, Niranjana"],"institution":"University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"M.S.","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Computer Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Lewis, Colleen M."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-05","date_published":"2024-05","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:00Z","subjects":["Python Tutor","Program Visualizer","Microgenetic Analysis","Understanding Representations","Interpreting Python Tutor Representations","Novice Programmers"],"languages":["en","eng"],"rights":["Copyright 2024 Niranjana Balasubramanian"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124436","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Lewis, Colleen M."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Balasubramanian, Niranjana"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2024-05","2024-05-01"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Computer Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.S."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Python Tutor","Program Visualizer","Microgenetic Analysis","Understanding Representations","Interpreting Python Tutor Representations","Novice Programmers"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en","eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2024 Niranjana Balasubramanian"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124436"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2024-09-16 without embargo terms","The student, Niranjana Balasubramanian, accepted the attached license on 2024-04-30 at 22:59.","The student, Niranjana Balasubramanian, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2024-04-30 at 23:01.","This Thesis was approved for publication on 2024-05-01 at 09:21.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #20702 on 2024-09-16 at 00:37:24","Background: Programming can be challenging for novice programmers. Computer science courses often focus on syntax alone and students may view program execution as a “black box”. To develop the “glass-box” view, visualizations that display program execution may be useful. Python Tutor is a program visualization tool developed for use in educational settings. Purpose: In this thesis, we attempt to understand the demands placed upon novices in learning to use Python Tutor for the first time. This includes analyzing students’ interaction with Python Tutor and observing how they use and interpret the features they see in the visualization. Methods: We conducted think-aloud interviews where students were asked to step through code samples on Python Tutor. We present our microgenetic analysis for one student and explore how he progressively builds an understanding of the representation and Python. Findings: We observed that Python Tutor visualizations include components that may be difficult for novices to understand. Python Tutor also does not provide any explanation for the keywords and technical terms it uses on the visualizations, likely making it difficult for novices to fully comprehend the visualizations. Implications: The results of this study can help in understanding and improving the design and features of Python Tutor that may be difficult for novices to comprehend. Additionally, our work can help educators understand challenges students may face when learning to understand the Python Tutor visualizations."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Challenges of interpreting Python Tutor visualizations"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Lewis, Colleen M."],"dc:creator":["Balasubramanian, Niranjana"],"dc:date":["2024-05","2024-05-01"],"dc:description":["Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2024-09-16 without embargo terms","The student, Niranjana Balasubramanian, accepted the attached license on 2024-04-30 at 22:59.","The student, Niranjana Balasubramanian, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2024-04-30 at 23:01.","This Thesis was approved for publication on 2024-05-01 at 09:21.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #20702 on 2024-09-16 at 00:37:24","Background: Programming can be challenging for novice programmers. Computer science courses often focus on syntax alone and students may view program execution as a “black box”. To develop the “glass-box” view, visualizations that display program execution may be useful. Python Tutor is a program visualization tool developed for use in educational settings. Purpose: In this thesis, we attempt to understand the demands placed upon novices in learning to use Python Tutor for the first time. This includes analyzing students’ interaction with Python Tutor and observing how they use and interpret the features they see in the visualization. Methods: We conducted think-aloud interviews where students were asked to step through code samples on Python Tutor. We present our microgenetic analysis for one student and explore how he progressively builds an understanding of the representation and Python. Findings: We observed that Python Tutor visualizations include components that may be difficult for novices to understand. Python Tutor also does not provide any explanation for the keywords and technical terms it uses on the visualizations, likely making it difficult for novices to fully comprehend the visualizations. Implications: The results of this study can help in understanding and improving the design and features of Python Tutor that may be difficult for novices to comprehend. Additionally, our work can help educators understand challenges students may face when learning to understand the Python Tutor visualizations."],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124436"],"dc:language":["en","eng"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2024 Niranjana Balasubramanian"],"dc:subject":["Python Tutor","Program Visualizer","Microgenetic Analysis","Understanding Representations","Interpreting Python Tutor Representations","Novice Programmers"],"dc:title":["Challenges of interpreting Python Tutor visualizations"],"dc:type":["text"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Computer Science"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.S."],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:00Z"}