Virtual CAT: A multi-interface educational platform for algorithmic thinking assessment

Abstract

The virtual Cross Array Task (CAT) is an educational platform designed to evaluate algorithmic thinking (AT) skills among students within Swiss compulsory education. This tool introduces an adaptable multi-interface system, enabling users to interact via intuitive gesture-based commands or through a visual programming interface that uses drag-and-drop blocks, facilitating a versatile approach to constructing and understanding algorithms. The platform encompasses a comprehensive training module for skill acquisition and a validation module for assessment. The system offers real-time feedback to users during activities, adjusting dynamically based on their actions, providing insights into progress and areas for improvement, thereby facilitating learning and performance enhancement. With multilingual capabilities extended to English, German, French, and Italian, the virtual CAT is intricately crafted to meet the diverse needs of educational contexts across various regions. Preliminary application and evaluation through a small-scale study indicate the virtual CAT’s potential to offer scalable assessment and a robust platform for integrating AT into broader educational and research methodologies, setting the stage for its integration into academic research and daily pedagogical practice.