Student Perceptions of GlowScript Blocks Computational Activities in Introductory Mechanics

The Physics Department at Texas State University introduced computational modeling into introductory mechanics using the GlowScript Blocks platform (https://trinket.io/glowscript-blocks, also developed at TXST). Students work on the computational modeling activities during the first 30 minutes of their laboratory sessions. The overall goals of the activities are to enhance student engagement with and positive feelings about computational modeling in physics and to build familiarity with some concepts from computational modeling in physics. This program is intended to prepare physics students for more formal instruction in computation throughout the undergraduate physics curriculum. A survey administered at the end of Fall 2017 indicates that students prefer the instructional strategy of building blocks with visible model code to the strategy of editing given blocks with hidden model code. Most students also agree that learning computation is important for their future career. Examples and themes from student responses will also be presented.