TY - GEN
T1 - touchBase
T2 - 16th Conference on Creativity and Cognition, C and C 2024
AU - Scheirer, Cass
AU - Zhong, Vera
AU - Kulkarni, Sakshi
AU - Zaman, Mashiyat
AU - Desportes, Kayla
AU - Castro, Francisco Enrique Vicente
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Owner/Author.
PY - 2024/6/23
Y1 - 2024/6/23
N2 - Tangible programming languages (TPL) involve physical objects, often interlocking blocks, that represent computer programming elements. Users connect TPL blocks in logical chains to construct code that typically controls the behavior of another device. Designed for young children, they offer a playful and embodied approach to computer science education. While these systems can effectively teach basic programming concepts, TPL code lacks transferability and expressivity, which limits the types of problems that learners can engage with. Our work explores how designing for the multimodality of TPLs can support greater complexity in programming concepts, a smoother transition to advanced programming settings, and enhanced learner expression. We present touchBase, a TPL that leverages concepts in physical computing and principles of Gestalt psychology to support a culturally-sustaining approach to CS learning design.
AB - Tangible programming languages (TPL) involve physical objects, often interlocking blocks, that represent computer programming elements. Users connect TPL blocks in logical chains to construct code that typically controls the behavior of another device. Designed for young children, they offer a playful and embodied approach to computer science education. While these systems can effectively teach basic programming concepts, TPL code lacks transferability and expressivity, which limits the types of problems that learners can engage with. Our work explores how designing for the multimodality of TPLs can support greater complexity in programming concepts, a smoother transition to advanced programming settings, and enhanced learner expression. We present touchBase, a TPL that leverages concepts in physical computing and principles of Gestalt psychology to support a culturally-sustaining approach to CS learning design.
KW - cognitive dimensions of notations
KW - learning technologies
KW - physical computing
KW - tangible programming languages
KW - tangible user interfaces
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197849668&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85197849668&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/3635636.3664253
DO - 10.1145/3635636.3664253
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85197849668
T3 - ACM International Conference Proceeding Series
SP - 464
EP - 469
BT - C and C 2024 - Proceedings of the 16th Conference on Creativity and Cognition
PB - Association for Computing Machinery
Y2 - 23 June 2024 through 26 June 2024
ER -