Virtual and Augmented Reality in the Teaching and Learning of Programming: A Systematic Mapping Study

Resumo

As programming becomes a fundamental course in several areas of knowledge and a desirable competence in different sectors of society, many teaching and learning approaches have been developed to support students and instructors. This study aims to understand and characterize the research area that merges Virtual (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) with the teaching and learning of programming, since both VR and AR have become popular and affordable nowadays. To achieve these goals, we conducted a systematic mapping study. The results reinforce the adoption of VR and AR as tools to support the visualization and practice of programming concepts, as well as to increase students' motivation and engagement. Results also showed gaps, mainly in relation to the use of mobile devices and immersive VR.