research-article

From Alice to Python. Introducing Text-based Programming in Middle Schools

Authors:

Hanan Alshikhabobakr,

Saquib RazakAuthors Info & Claims

ITiCSE '16: Proceedings of the 2016 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

Pages 124 - 129

https://doi.org/10.1145/2899415.2899462

Published: 11 July 2016 Publication History

Abstract

In this paper, we present our experience in designing computing curriculum for Middle School students. Computing education is becoming an important part of STEM education and several national curriculums are incorporating computing education in their core curriculums. We design a curriculum that uses Alice -- an interactive drag-and-drop interface that provides a simple interface to learn programming concepts. Once the students are comfortable in these concepts, they take Python in higher classes to learn computing concepts in the context of a text-based programming language. This study attempts to provide "mediated transfer" for applying concepts learned in Alice, to programming in Python. We present the results of our study in applying this curriculum in a local school.

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Cited By

Yu QYu KLi B(2024)Effects of Block-Based Visual Programming on K-12 Students’ Learning OutcomesJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/07356331241293163Online publication date: 29-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331241293163
Mladenović MŽanko ŽZaharija G(2024)From Blocks to Text: Bridging Programming MisconceptionsJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/0735633124124004762:5(1302-1326)Online publication date: 2-Apr-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331241240047
Bunn TAnslow CLundqvist K(2024)Towards a Python 3 processing IDE for teaching creative programmingMultimedia Tools and Applications10.1007/s11042-024-20345-183:38(86247-86260)Online publication date: 10-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-024-20345-1
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Index Terms

From Alice to Python. Introducing Text-based Programming in Middle Schools
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. K-12 education

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Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

ITiCSE '16: Proceedings of the 2016 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

July 2016

394 pages

ISBN:9781450342315

DOI:10.1145/2899415

General Chairs:
Alison Clear
Eastern Institute of Technology, New Zealand
,
Ernesto Cuadros-Vargas
San Pablo Catholic University, Peru
,
Program Chairs:
Janet Carter
University of Kent, UK
,
Yvan Tupac
San Pablo Catholic University, Peru

Copyright © 2016 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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Bilkent University: Bilkent University
SIGCSE: ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 11 July 2016

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Qatar National Research Fund

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ITiCSE '16

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Bilkent University
SIGCSE

ITiCSE '16: Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education Conference 2016

July 11 - 13, 2016

Arequipa, Peru

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ITiCSE '16 Paper Acceptance Rate 56 of 147 submissions, 38%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 552 of 1,613 submissions, 34%

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Cited By

Yu QYu KLi B(2024)Effects of Block-Based Visual Programming on K-12 Students’ Learning OutcomesJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/07356331241293163Online publication date: 29-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331241293163
Mladenović MŽanko ŽZaharija G(2024)From Blocks to Text: Bridging Programming MisconceptionsJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/0735633124124004762:5(1302-1326)Online publication date: 2-Apr-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331241240047
Bunn TAnslow CLundqvist K(2024)Towards a Python 3 processing IDE for teaching creative programmingMultimedia Tools and Applications10.1007/s11042-024-20345-183:38(86247-86260)Online publication date: 10-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-024-20345-1
Jin HCutumisu M(2024)Cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal deeper learning domains: A systematic review of computational thinkingEducation and Information Technologies10.1007/s10639-024-12744-6Online publication date: 16-May-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-12744-6
Díaz-Lauzurica BMoreno-Salinas D(2023)Applying Design Thinking to Enhance Programming Education in Vocational and Compulsory Secondary SchoolsApplied Sciences10.3390/app13231279213:23(12792)Online publication date: 29-Nov-2023
https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312792
Sun DZhu CXu FLi YOuyang FCheng M(2023)Transitioning From Introductory to Professional Programming in Secondary Education: Comparing Learners’ Computational Thinking Skills, Behaviors, and AttitudesJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/0735633123120465362:3(647-674)Online publication date: 3-Oct-2023
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331231204653
do Amaral BFasy BFirth OHancock SJeffers PKomlos BMcCoy BWindchief SChoppella VPhatak DLuxton-Reilly ACraig M(2023)Integrating Computer Science into Middle School Curricula Through Storytelling: A Lesson Plan on Beaded Bags of the Columbia PlateauProceedings of the ACM Conference on Global Computing Education Vol 110.1145/3576882.3617913(50-56)Online publication date: 5-Dec-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3576882.3617913
Černochová MSelcuk HBeneš M(2023)Initial Steps in Teaching Python at Lower Secondary School Using the Platform Codeboard.ioTeaching Coding in K-12 Schools10.1007/978-3-031-21970-2_19(289-304)Online publication date: 28-Feb-2023
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21970-2_19
Kao YMatlen BWeintrop D(2022)From One Language to the Next: Applications of Analogical Transfer for Programming EducationACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/348705122:4(1-21)Online publication date: 22-Nov-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3487051
Tshukudu ECutts QGoletti OSwidan AHermans F(2021)Teachers’ Views and Experiences on Teaching Second and Subsequent Programming LanguagesProceedings of the 17th ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research10.1145/3446871.3469752(294-305)Online publication date: 16-Aug-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3446871.3469752
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