The Integrated Software Visualization Model to Support Novices' Program Comprehension

摘要

Acquiring knowledge and skill of programming is a difficult and complex process. It could not be easier to achieve the comprehensive understanding of programming without the appropriate method or tool. Unfortunately, most of the learning processes and supporting tools emphasize programming as a product rather than a process. In order to support a comprehensive understanding of programming, this study proposes an integrated software visualization model as a consideration in constructing program comprehension tool based on multiple programming processes with multi level program abstractions. To verify the model, a prototype tool has been developed and evaluated through a survey and observation. Result found that our proposed model has a great potential to aid novices in learning introductory programming.