Students' Visualisations of Programming Concepts: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

This study explores the intuitive visualisations of code created by novice programming students with the aim of uncovering how these reflect their understanding of fundamental programming concepts. Through a thematic analysis of student drawings, this exploratory research identifies common themes and categorises different modes of visual expression. The findings reveal great variations in how students can visualise code, and suggest that drawings can serve as an effective tool for both diagnosing student misconceptions and supporting their learning of programming. This study highlights the potential of incorporating visual exercises into programming education to improve concept comprehension.