Initial Observations of Student Use of GlowScript Blocks in Introductory Mechanics

In Fall 2017, the Physics Department at Texas State University introduced computational modeling into Introductory Mechanics using the newly developed GlowScript Blocks platform. Students work on the tutorial during the first 30 minutes of their laboratory sessions. The overall goal of this addendum to the laboratory course is to enhance student engagement with and positive feelings about computational modeling in physics. The program is also intended to build familiarity with some concepts from computational modeling in physics and prepare physics majors and minors for more formal instruction in computation throughout the undergraduate physics curriculum. We will discuss the structure of the program and present our observations of various effects it appears to have on students. We will also present some data on student perceptions of the activities.