Project Activities
People and institutions involved
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Products and publications
Product: vCoder will be an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience for middle and high students to learn computer science skills through "hands-on" experiential learning. 2 years (05/01/2021 - 04/30/2023) vCoder will include beginner, intermediate, and advanced difficulty levels. Each level will include 36 modules covering fundamentals, such as loops, sequencing, debugging, functions, variables, conditionals, events, and troubleshooting. An artificial intelligence engine will support students in seeing adjustments in the VR world as they code in real time, in providing cues and support for students who are struggling, or more challenging tasks when needed. Teachers will serve as coaches and facilitators, guiding students when necessary, monitoring student progress, and offering just-in-time instruction to answer questions and reinforce key concepts and skills.
Project website:
Supplemental information
Video Demonstration of the Phase I Prototype: https://youtu.be/s-oVEZSWKZo
In Phase II, the team will fully develop the curricular modules, difficulty levels, the machine learning algorithms, add multiplayer functionality, and teacher professional development materials. After development is complete, the research team will conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility and usability, fidelity of implementation, and the promise of vCoder to improve student learning. The study will include 20 middle school computer science classes, half randomly assigned to use vCoder and half to participate in business-as-usual instruction. Researchers will compare pre- and post-test scores for student learning over a 4-week period using items from the Computer Science Concept Inventory. The researchers will also determine a per student cost to implement the intervention in treatment classrooms.
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
