Teaching Elementary Students Programming in a Physical Computing Classroom
Karen H. Jin, Kathleen Haynie, Gavin Kearns · 2016
A physical computing classroom is a popular setting to teach elementary students programming through the use of realistic physical hardware. However, various learning activities and their associated instructional media may cause distraction and disengagement in students' learning experiences. We propose a method to improve the design of learning activities by analyzing their associated physical media usage. We discuss how this method was applied in the design of a summer program for elementary students. Our initial evaluation indicates the program was effective in increasing students' computing knowledge as well as successful in stimulating and engaging students' interests in programming.