VR‐OCKS: A virtual reality game for learning the basic concepts of programming

Abstract

This paper presents a prototype of a virtual reality system to teach the basic concepts of programming called VR-OCKS. The system is inspired by other visual languages such as Scratch or Kodu, and it works by proposing to the user the resolution of simple puzzles in a 3D environment. Several basic commands to a humanoid character, such as advance or turn, together with control flow structures like iteration and conditional selections, are needed to provide a solution for increasingly difficult challenges. Our aim is to attract users, usually children and teenagers, into the world of programming by taking advantage of the appeal and potential of Virtual Reality. In addition to the skills enhanced by educational programming languages, like common sense, creative thinking or systematic reasoning, others such as spatial orientation, autonomy or manual skills are also strengthened. Our experiments with adult and children users have shown a very good acceptance and great potential as educational tool.