WIP: Auto-gradable Hands-On Parse Tree Learning Tool in Virtual Reality

Publication Date

6-22-2025

Conference/Sponsorship/Institution

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Description

Parse trees, or syntax trees, are fundamental concepts in computer science as they represent the structure of programming language expressions. Traditional teaching methods require students to manually draw syntax trees for given expressions - a process that can become tedious for students to practice and time-consuming for educators to grade. This project explores the potential of virtual reality (VR) to provide a more engaging and interactive learning experience for syntax tree education while also supporting auto-gradable exercises for scalable practice.

We have developed a web-based VR tool that enables students to construct syntax trees through drag-and-drop interactions in an immersive environment. To evaluate its effectiveness, we plan to conduct a comparative study with three groups of undergraduate computer science students: one receiving traditional instruction with static diagrams, one using a browser-based drag-and-drop tool, and one utilizing the VR tool. The evaluation will include both qualitative and quantitative measures. Qualitatively, we will assess student engagement and self-efficacy through Likert-scale surveys. Quantitatively, we will compare task completion times and scores to evaluate learning outcomes. By automating tree validation and grading, the tool not only enhances engagement but also improves teaching efficiency.

Type

Conference Paper

Department

Computer Science

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