Software by kids for kids

Abstract

There are currently few opportunities for children to go beyond button-pushing and mouse-clicking in their interaction with technology. By asking children to program software for other children, the tables are turned and children are placed in the active role of constructing their own programs and constructing new relationships with knowledge in the process. The most obvious benefit is that children learn about technology by building things of significance, such as game software. A far more promising aspect is that learning programming and learning about technology is not only good for its own sake but also good because it is supportive of other types of learning.