research-article

Teaching Programming in Secondary Education Through Embodied Computing Platforms: Robotics and Wearables

Authors:

Alexandros Merkouris,

Konstantinos Chorianopoulos,

Achilles KameasAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Computing Education (TOCE), Volume 17, Issue 2

Article No.: 9, Pages 1 - 22

https://doi.org/10.1145/3025013

Published: 23 May 2017 Publication History

Abstract

Pedagogy has emphasized that physical representations and tangible interactive objects benefit learning especially for young students. There are many tangible hardware platforms for introducing computer programming to children, but there is limited comparative evaluation of them in the context of a formal classroom. In this work, we explore the benefits of learning to code for tangible computers, such as robots and wearable computers, in comparison to programming for the desktop computer. For this purpose, 36 students participated in a within-groups study that involved three types of target computer platform tangibility: (1) desktop, (2) wearable, and (3) robotic. We employed similar blocks-based visual programming environments, and we measured emotional engagement, attitudes, and computer programming performance. We found that students were more engaged by and had a higher intention of learning programming with the robotic rather than the desktop computer. Furthermore, tangible computing platforms, either robot or wearable, did not affect the students’ performance in learning basic computational concepts (e.g., sequence, repeat, and decision). Our findings suggest that computer programming should be introduced through multiple target platforms (e.g., robots, smartphones, wearables) to engage children.

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Cited By

Gursch SRobinig SRatschiller PKutschera SSlany W(2024)From Smartphone to Fabric: Mobile Embroidery ProgrammingMedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.03.20.X56(457-478)Online publication date: 20-Mar-2024
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Spieler BSchifferle TDahinden M(2024)‹Making im Unterricht›MedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.02.14.X56(331-363)Online publication date: 14-Feb-2024
https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.02.14.X
Alam AMohanty A(2024)Integrated constructive robotics in education (ICRE) model: a paradigmatic framework for transformative learning in educational ecosystemCogent Education10.1080/2331186X.2024.232448711:1Online publication date: 11-Mar-2024
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Index Terms

Teaching Programming in Secondary Education Through Embodied Computing Platforms: Robotics and Wearables
1. Computer systems organization
  1. Embedded and cyber-physical systems
    1. Robotics
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education

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Published In

cover image ACM Transactions on Computing Education

ACM Transactions on Computing Education Volume 17, Issue 2

June 2017

107 pages

EISSN:1946-6226

DOI:10.1145/3090098

Editor:
Chris Hundhausen
Washington State University, USA

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Copyright © 2017 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Association for Computing Machinery

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Publication History

Published: 23 May 2017

Accepted: 01 October 2016

Revised: 01 September 2016

Received: 01 September 2015

Published in TOCE Volume 17, Issue 2

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Cited By

Gursch SRobinig SRatschiller PKutschera SSlany W(2024)From Smartphone to Fabric: Mobile Embroidery ProgrammingMedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.03.20.X56(457-478)Online publication date: 20-Mar-2024
https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.03.20.X
Spieler BSchifferle TDahinden M(2024)‹Making im Unterricht›MedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.02.14.X56(331-363)Online publication date: 14-Feb-2024
https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/56/2024.02.14.X
Alam AMohanty A(2024)Integrated constructive robotics in education (ICRE) model: a paradigmatic framework for transformative learning in educational ecosystemCogent Education10.1080/2331186X.2024.232448711:1Online publication date: 11-Mar-2024
https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2324487
Wang YXie B(2024)Can robot-supported learning enhance computational thinking? –A meta-analysisThinking Skills and Creativity10.1016/j.tsc.2024.101528(101528)Online publication date: Apr-2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2024.101528
Grubišić VCrnokić B(2024)A Systematic Review of Robotics’ Transformative Role in EducationDigital Transformation in Education and Artificial Intelligence Application10.1007/978-3-031-62058-4_16(257-272)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62058-4_16
Govender RGovender D(2023)Using Robotics in the Learning of Computer Programming: Student Experiences Based on Experiential Learning CyclesEducation Sciences10.3390/educsci1303032213:3(322)Online publication date: 21-Mar-2023
https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13030322
Chu SGarcia BRani N(2023)Research on wearable technologies for learning: a systematic reviewFrontiers in Education10.3389/feduc.2023.12703898Online publication date: 9-Nov-2023
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1270389
Ma NQian JGong KLu Y(2023)Promoting programming education of novice programmers in elementary schools: A contrasting cases approach for learning programmingEducation and Information Technologies10.1007/s10639-022-11565-928:7(9211-9234)Online publication date: 11-Jan-2023
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Dagienė VGülbahar YGrgurina NLópez-Pernas SSaqr MApiola MStupurienė G(2023)Computing Education Research in SchoolsPast, Present and Future of Computing Education Research10.1007/978-3-031-25336-2_20(481-520)Online publication date: 18-Apr-2023
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Coşkunserçe O(2023)Comparing the use of block‐based and robot programming in introductory programming education: Effects on perceptions of programming self‐efficacyComputer Applications in Engineering Education10.1002/cae.2263731:5(1234-1255)Online publication date: 8-May-2023
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