Development and Initial Deployment of a Graphic Editor for GlowScript VPython

In order to decrease the slope of the learning curve for students who are beginning computational modeling in physics, education researchers in the Department of Physics at Texas State University partnered with the educational technology company Trinket to develop a block-based editor for GlowScript VPython. This editor, 'GlowScript Blocks', has now been deployed in courses for physics students at Texas State. Key features of the blocks will be demonstrated. A course of instruction was also developed using a model-emulation framework, in which students edit a program to match the output of a program with a hidden script. This free product is currently planned for public release in January 2018. GlowScript Blocks tool: https://trinket.io/glowscript-blocks Course: https://trinket.io/txst\_phys/courses/introduction-to-using-glowscript-blocks-for-mechanics