Impacts of Block-based Programming on Young Learners' Programming Skills and Attitudes in the Context of Smart Environments

Abstract

In computer programming education, showing the application of programming in reality has become a common way to introduce it to young learners. However, we have limited knowledge of how best to utilize smart objects and environments to foster the learners' programming skills and develop a positive attitude towards programming. My research focuses on filling this gap by presenting an educational block-based programming tool that brings together the hot topic of smart environments and the visual programming paradigm. The end goal is empirically investigating the impacts of state-of-the-art smart technologies together with block-based programming on the learners' programming skills and attitudes towards programming in non-formal learning environments.