Block-Based Programming for Education: A Comprehensive Analysis of Visual Programming Environments in K-12 Learning

The use of block-based programming software has a major impact on education, particularly those that are stuck in the early education stage, such as children and beginners (i.e., “New To Programming”). In this paper, we look at how effective these Toolkits for teaching computing are in many different teaching moments if they are created using drag-and-drop Graphic Programming Interfaces with code blocks that interlock together (Just Think of a Jigsaw Puzzle). We will provide examples from many different software platforms and review the current research available that has been published over the last couple of years regarding the benefits of Visual Programming Languages in relation to Thinking Critically About and Creating Computer Programs and Applying Concepts of Implementation in Your Everyday Life. The research used for this paper included a sample size of over 500 students from multiple school districts across Canada and out of these, we found considerable growth in students’ ability to solve problems and their ability to think logically and their confidence to create an original program (i.e., writing/coding itself). Block-based programming should be used as a bridge or scaffold between computational Thinking and real-world application, therefore providing students access + engagement + success in learning to Program and grow their skills in Computer Science Histories.

block-based programming, visual programming, computational thinking, educational technology, Scratch, programming pedagogy

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