Teaching Computer Programming in Elementary Schools: A Pilot Study
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2005-06-27
Authors
Lin, Janet Mei-Chuen
Yan, Long-Yuen
Yang, Mei-Ching
Chen, Chiao-Fun
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
In this study eighty-one ten- to twelve-year-old students learned to use Stagecast Creator, HANDS, and Visual Basic to create simple games and animations. Data were gathered and analyzed to understand students’attitudes toward learning the three programming packages, the difficulties they encountered in writing programs and getting programs to work, and how parents felt about their children’s programming learning experience. Results of this study reveal that children can learn and they enjoy learning computer programming. Most parents also support teaching of computer programming in elementary schools.