摘要：An educational software assessment tool, VB2ALGO, for a visual programming
course has been developed and the eff ects of it on the high school students’
performances, motivation and cognitive skills were explored. The tool inherits
algorithm visualization technique together with reverse engineering approach;
it takes the visual basic source code as an input and generates pseudocode and
fl owchart as an output. First, an experimental research methodology was applied,
whereby pre-tests and post-tests were conducted to estimate the eff ect of using
the software tool on student performances towards learning visual programming
course. Then, the eff ect of the tool on students’ motivation and cognitive skills
were measured with students’ questionnaires. Finally, teachers’ class management
skills were investigated with teachers’ questionnaires in terms of time-management
for better teaching experiences. The experiment was carried out with 294 students
from 4 diff erent high schools which had divided into experimental group and
control groups. Parametric statistical tests were applied and results showed
that the use of software tool reveals better performances for the experimental
group as compared to the control group. In addition, the results of the students’
questionnaires confi rmed an increment in students’ motivation and cognitive
skills in programming language classes as compared to the traditional class. It
also results in the improvement of students’ learning capacities and knowledge
about programming concepts. Finally, results of the teachers’ quantitative analysis outlined that use of the software tool encourages teachers to complete more
examples inside the classroom with better time management.
关键词：Algorithm visualization; reverse engineering; ICT; high school
education; visual programming; motivation;
